CHAPTER IV

ddoing.TheDremmelofhisrealnature,ofthosecalmdepthswherelayhappyfieldsoffuturefertilizers,gazedatthisinflamedconductgoingonatthetopinastonishment. "No,"hesaid,withimmensedetermination,"youwillsithereandexplainaboutyourfather." "It'sadreadfulthing,"repliedIngeborg,suddenlydiscoveringthatofallthingsshedidnotlikebeingclutched,andlookingstraightintohiseyes,herheadalittlethrownback,"thatonecan'tleaveone'shomeevenforaweekwithoutgettingintoascrape." "Ascrape!Youcallitascrapewhenagoodman—" "Here'sapersonwhogoesawayforalittlechange—privately.Andbeforesheknowswheresheisshe'sbeinghelddownonthetopoftheRigiandorderedbyastrangeman—" "Byherfuturehusband!"criedHerrDremmel,whowasfindingthemakingofoffersmoredifficultthanhehadsupposed. "—byastrangemantoexplainherfather.Asthoughanybodycouldeverexplaintheirfather.Asthoughanybodycouldeverexplainanything." "GodinHeaven,"criedHerrDremmel,"donotexplainhimthen.Justmarryme." Andatthismomentthesnake-likeprocessionoftherestofDent'sTour,headedbyMr.Ascoughwatchinhand,emergedfromtheh?tel,whereithadbeenhavingtea,ontotheplateau,wipingitsmouthsinreadinessforthesunset. Withthejerkofathingthathasbeenstungitswervedasideasitwasaboutalmosttotreadonthetwoonthegrass. Ingeborgsatverystiffandstraightandpretendedtobestaringintentlyattheview,forgettingthatitwasbehindher.SheflushedwhenshefoundtherewasnotimetomovefarenoughfromHerrDremmelforagaptobevisiblebetweenthem. "Lookatthosetwonow,"whisperedtheyoungladylastintheprocessiontotheyoungmanbrushingbreadandbutteroutofhistiewhowalkedbesideher. Helooked,andseemedinclinedtolinger. "She'sverypretty,isn'tshe?"hesaid. "Oh,doyouthinkso?"saidhiscompanion."Ineverthinkanybody'sprettywhoisn't—youknowwhatImean—reallynice,youknow—lady-like—" Andshehurriedhimon,because,shesaid,ifhedidn'thurryhe'dmissthesunset.