CHAPTER IV

ittleOnebefore,butthat,shefeltasshestoodbeforehimconsideringthisthingthathadhappenedtoher,wasprettyratherthanimpassioned. Herewasanawkwardandoddresultofherholidayenterprise. "It's—veryunexpected,"shesaid,lamely. "Yes,"heagreed."Itisunexpected.Ithasgreatlysurprisedme." "I'mverysorry,"shesaid. "Aboutwhatareyousorry,LittleOne?" "Ican'tacceptyour—youroffer." "What!Thereissomeoneelse?" "Notthatsortofsomeone.Butthere'smyfather." Hemadeagreatsweepwithhisarm."Fathers,"hesaidandpushedthewholebreedoutofsight. "He'sveryimportant." "Important!LittleOne,whenwillyoumarryme?" "Ican'tleavehim." Hebecamepatient."Ithasbeenlaiddownthatawomanshallleavefatherandmotherandanyotherrelatedobstacleshemayhavethemisfortunetobehamperedwith,andcleaveonlytoherhusband." "Thatwasaboutamancleavingtohiswife.Therewasn'tanythingsaidaboutawoman.Besides—"Shestopped.Shecouldn'ttellhimthatshedidn'twanttocleave. Hegazedatheramomentinsilence.Hehadnotcontemplatedanecessityforpersuasion. "This,"hethensaidwithseverity,"isprevarication." Shesatdownonthegrassandclaspedherhandsroundherkneesandlookedupathim.Shehadtakenoffherhatwhenfirstshegottothetoptofanherself,andhadnotputitonagain.Asshesattherewithherbacktotheglowofthesky,thewindsoftlyliftedtheringsofherhairandthesunshonethroughthemwonderfully.Theyseemedtoflickergentlytoandfro,littletonguesoffire. "Why,"saidHerrDremmel,suddenlyleaningforwardandstaring,"youarelikeaspirit." Thispleasedher.Foramomenthereyesdanced. "Likeaspirit,"herepeated."AndhereamItalkingheavilytoyou,asthoughyouwereanordinarywoman.LittleOne,howdoesonetrapaspiritintomarrying?Tellme.ForveryearnestlydoIdesiretobeshowntheway." "Onedoesn't,"saidIngeborg. "Ah,donotbedifficult.Youhavebeensoeasy,ofsuchacomfortableresponseinallthingsuptonow." "Butthis—"beganIngeborg. "Yes.This,Iw