CHAPTER VI

Itwasaperturbedbetrothal,thereweresomanypeopleatit. SevenladiesbesidesIngeborgappearedinthesmallsalonadjoiningthesmoking-roomnextmorningatnineo'clock.WhatHerrDremmelhaddone,beingignorantwhichwasIngeborg'sroomandafterlaboriousthoughtdecidingthattodemandhernumberofthehall-porterlaterthanduskmightveryconceivablycastasluronherreputation,youngladiesbeing,ashewellknew,ofalllivingcreaturesthemosteasilyslurred,wastowriteasmanycopiesoftheletterasthereweredoorsonherlandingandthrustthemindustriouslyonebyonebeneatheachdoor,strongintheknowledgethatshewouldinthismannerinevitablygetoneofthem. Hewasgreatlypleasedwiththisplan.Itseemedofabeautifulsimplicityandeffectiveness."Beingunawareofthecontext,"hereasoned,"noladyexcepttherightonewillbeabletoguesswhatthelettercanpossiblyreferto.Shewillthereforethrowitasideasanobviousmistakeandthinknomoreaboutit." Buttheladiesdidthink.Andnoneoftheinhabitantsofthethirdfloor,exceptMr.Ascoughwhoneverthoughtanythingaboutanything,havingdiscoveredthatifonceyoubegintothinkthereisnoendtoit,andadriedandbrittlelittlemanlatelypensionedoffbythefirmhehadbeenclerktoandtakinghisfirsttriponthecontinentinaconditionofprofounduninterestedness,threwitaside.Thesetwodidbutthesevenladiesnotonlydidnotthrowitaside,theyreaditmanytimes,andinsteadofthinkingnomoreaboutitthoughtofnothingelse.EvenMrs.Bawn,whohadbeenawidowforsixmonthsandwasheartilytiredofit,waspleased.Sheliked,particularly,beingaddressedasLittleOne.Therewasablindnessaboutthisthatsuggestedgenuinefeeling.ShehadnotbeensomuchpleasedsinceherdearBawn,nowhalfayearinglory,hadtoldheroneday,beforetheirmarriage,thathedidnotcarewhatanybodysaidhemaintainedthatshewashandsome. Theyallthoughttheletterveryvirile,andthatnothingcouldbemoregentlemanlythanitsrestraint.Fourofthemexpectedadifferentmalememberofthepartytobewaitinginthesmallsalon,theremainingthreeexpectedMr.Ascough.Mr.Ascoughhadacaressingwaywithpatsofbutterandtheclosingofthedoorsoffilledflysthathadbeforenowledhim,onthesetours,intomisapprehensions.Hewaslongsincemarried,buthadomittedtomentionit.Theladies,therefore,whentheyarrivedinthesmallsalonatnineo'clockdidnotfindMr.Ascoughnoranyoftheotherfourfriendstheyexpected.Theyfound,surprisingly,eachotherand,standingthickandblacknearadecoratedtableatthewindowandscowlinginafreshastonishmenteverytimethedooropenedandanotherladycamein,thatveryundesirablefellow-tourist,theGermangentleman. EachoneimmediatelyknewitwasIngeborgwhohadbeenwrittento,andthattheletterhadgoneastray.EachonealsothoughtsheknewthatIngeborghadnotgottheletterandwouldnotcome.Buteachone,exceptMrs.Bawn,washelpedtocoveruphershockbybeingsuretheothersdidnotknowofitan