CHAPTER IV

y.Shereceivedalongletterinreply,fullofregrets,excuses,andgoodreasons,whichshereadwonderingly.Hadshebeenselfish,orwasPeterselfish?Shethoughtitalloutcarefully,andfoundthatitwasshewhohadbeenselfishtoexpectPeter,alwaysahaterofbusinessandaloverofquiet,togoallthatwayandworryhimselfwithtiresomemoneyarrangements.Besides,perhapshewasnotfeelingwell.Sheknewhesufferedfromrheumatismandwhenyouhaverheumatismthemerethoughtofalongjourneyisappalling. Susie,whoseheadwasveryclearonallmattersconcerningmoney,hadalsorecognisedthenecessityofAnna'sgoingtoGermany,andhadalsoregardedPeterasthemostnaturalcompanionandguidebutshewasnotsurprisedwhenAnnatoldherthathecouldnotgo."Itwastoomuchtoexpect,"apologisedAnna."Heoftenhasrheumatisminthespring,andperhapshehasitnow." Susiesniffed. "Thequestionis,"saidAnnaafterapause,"whatamItodo,helplessvirgin,inspiteofmyyears,—neverabletodoathingformyself?" "I'llgowithyou." "You?Butwhataboutyourengagements?" "Oh,I'llthrowthemover,andtakeyou.Lettycancometoo.ItwilldoherGermangood.HerrSchumpfsayshe'sashamedofher." Susiehadvariousreasonsforofferingherselfsoamiably,onebeingcertainlycuriosity.ButthechiefonewasthatthesamewomanwhohadbeensorudetoherthedayAnna'snewscame,hadsentoutinvitationstoalltheworldtoherdaughter'sweddingafterEaster,andhadnotsentonetoSusie. Thiswasoneofthosetrialsthatcannotbefaced.Ifshe,beinginLondonatthetime,carefullyexplainedtoherfriendsthatshewasillthatday,anddidactuallystayinbedanddoseherselfthedaysprecedingandfollowing,whowouldbelieveher?Notifshewavedadoctor'scertificateintheirfaceswouldtheybelieveher.Theywouldknowthatshehadnotbeeninvited,andwouldrejoice.Shefeltthatshecouldnotbearit.AnunavoidablebusinessjourneytotheContinentwasexactlywhatshewantedtohelpheroutofthisdesperatesitu