CHAPTER VI

oEnglishsociety.If,inaword,whentheTourgotbacktoEngland,theyweretowanttocall. SotheytookthecakereluctantlythatIngeborg,inasortofdream,cutandofferedthemandwithevenmorereluctancetheysippedthewineinwhichtheGermangentlemanrequestedthemtodrinkthenewlybetrothedcouple'shealth. "But—"saidIngeborg,tryingtorouseherselfevenatthiseleventhhour. "True.Therearenotenoughglasses.Iwillringformore,"wasthewayHerrDremmelfinishedhersentenceforher. Theimmenseofficialpromptnessofhim!Shefeltnumbed. Andwhentheglasseswerebroughttherewasanotherceremony—aclinkingofHerrDremmel'sglasswitheachglassinturn,hisheelstogetherasinthedaysofhissoldiering,hisbodystiffandhisfaceamiracleofsolemnityandbeforedrinkinghemadeaspeech,theAstiheldhighinfrontofhim,inwhichhethankedtheladiesfortheirgoodwishesonbehalfofhisbetrothed,MissIngeborgBullivant,whosevirtueshedweltuponsinglyandatlengthinresoundingperiods,beforeproceedingtoassurethosepresentofhisfirmresolvetoprove,bythedevotionoftherestofhislife,theextremityofhisgratitudeforthestrikingproofshehadgivenbeforethemallofherconfidenceinhimandeverysentenceseemedtosetanotherandaheaviersealonherasacreatureundoubtedlyboundtomarryhim. DimlyshebegantorealisesomethingofthesteelygripofaGermanengagement.Shewonderedwhethertherewereanymoreroomleftonherforeheadforfurtherseals.Shefeltthatitmustbecoveredwithgreatredthings,scrawledoverwiththeinscription: DREMMEL'S. Well,shewasafterallnotaparceltobepickedupandcarriedawaybythefirstpersonwhofoundherlyingabout,andtheminuteshewasalonewithhimshewould,shemust,tellhimthatwhatshehadreallycomedownfor,thoughappearanceswerecertainlybythistimeratheragainsther,wastorefusehim.Shewouldbeasgentleaspossible,butshewouldbeplainandfirm.Theminutethesewomenleftthemaloneshewouldtellhim. Withastartshesawthatthewomenwereleavingthemalone,andthattheminutehadcome.Shewantedthemnottogoshewantedtokeepthemthereatanycost.Sheevenmadeastepafterthemasthelastone,noddingtotheend,wentoutandshutthedoor,butHerrDremmelstillhadholdofherhand. Whenthedoorhadfinallyshutsheturnedtohimquickly.Herheadwasthrownback,hereyeswerefullofascrewed-upcourage. "Butyouknow—"shebegan,determinedtoclearthingsup,howevermuchitmighthurtthemboth. Andagainhepromptlyfinishedhersentenceforher,thistimebyenfoldingherinhisarmsandkissingherwithalargenessandabundancewhichnobishop,hermindflashedasherbodystoodstiffwithsurpriseandhorror,couldpossiblyapprove. Shefeltengulfed. Shefeltshemustbedisappearingaltogether. Heseemedinfinitelycapaciousandsoft. "Oh,butIcan't—Iwon't—oh,stop—oh,stop—it'samistake—"shetriedtogetoutingasps. "Mylittlewife,"wasallthenoticeHerrDremmeltookofthat.