CHAPTER IV

dathim,hergreyeyesverywideopen.SheforgotHerrDremmel,andthathewasstillclutchingherhandandallthegrassinit,whilehermindflashedovertheyearsthathadgoneandtheyearsthatweretocome.Theywouldbealike.Theyhadnotbeenabletofrostbiteheryetbecauseshehadbeentooyoungbuttheywouldgetherpresently.Theirdailyrepeatedbusyemptiness,theirrushofbarrenduties,theirmeagremomentsofwhatwhenshewasyoungerusedtobehappinessbuthadlatelyonlybeenrelief,thoseraremomentswhenherfatherpraisedher,wouldsettledownpresentlyandfreezeherdead. Herfacegrewsolemn."It'strue,"shesaidslowly."Ishallbeafrostbittenvirgin.I'mdoomed.Myfatherwon'teverletmemarry." "Youinfinitelychildishone!"hecried,becomingangry."Whenitiswellknownthatallfatherswishtogetridofalldaughters." "Youdon'tunderstand.It'sdifferent.Myfather—why,"shebrokeout,"Iusedtodosemyselfsecretlywithcodliveroilsoastokeepuptohislevel.He'swonderful.WhenhepraisedmeIusedn'ttosleep.Andifhescoldedmeitseemedtosendmelame." HerrDremmelsawedherhandupanddowninhisirritation. "Whatisthisirrelevanttalk?"hesaid."Iofferyoumarriage,andyourespondwithinformationaboutcodliveroil.Idonotbelievethefatherobstacle.Idonotrecognizemyhonestlittlefriendoftheselastdays.Itiswasteoftime,notbeingopen.Wouldyou,then,ifitwerenotforyourfather,marryme?" "But,"Ingeborgflashedroundathim,sweptoffherfeetasshesooftenwasbyanimpulseofuttertruth,"it'sbecauseofhimthatIwould." Andtheinstantshehadsaiditshewasshocked. ShestaredatHerrDremmelwide-eyedwithcontrition.Thedisloyaltyofit.Theuglinessoftellingastranger—andastrangerwithhairlikefur—anythingatallaboutthosecloselyrelatedpersonsshehadbeentaughttodescribetoherselfasherdearones. "Oh,"shecried,draggingherhandaway,"letmyhandgo—letmyhandgo!" Shetriedtogetontoherfeet,butwithanenergyhedidnotknowhepossessedhepulledherdownagain.Hedidnotrecognizeanyofthethingshewasfeelingan