CHAPTER IV

ation.Onherreturnshewouldbeabletoheartheweddingdiscussedandexpressherdisappointmentathavingmisseditwithaserenebrowandaquietmind. ItisdoubtfulwhethershewouldhavegonewithAnna,howeverurgentAnna'sneed,ifshehadbeenincludedinthoseinvitations.ButAnna,whocouldnotknowthesecretworkingsofhermind,oncemorerememberedherformertreatmentofSusie,sokindandwillingtodoallshecould,andhungherheadwithshame. TheyleftLondonadayortwobeforeEaster,LettyandMissLeech,bothofthemnearlyillwithsuppresseddelightattheunexpectedholiday,goingwiththem.TheyhadannouncedtheircomingtoUncleJoachim'slawyer,andaskedhimtomakearrangementsfortheiraccommodationatKleinwalde,Anna'snewpossession.SusieproposedtostayadayinBerlin,whichwouldgiveAnnatimetotalkeverythingoverwiththelawyer,andwouldenableLettytovisitthemuseums.ShehadahopefulideathatLettywouldabsorbGermanateveryporeonceshewasinthecountryitself,andthatbeingbroughtfacetofacewiththestatuesofGoetheandSchillerontheirnativesoilwouldkindlethesparksofinterestinGermanliteraturethatshesupposedeverywell-taughtchildpossessed,intotheroaringflameofenthusiasm.ShecouldnotbelievethatLettyhadnosparks.Oneofherchildrenbeingsoabnormallyclever,itmustbesheerobstinacyonthepartoftheotherthatpreventeditfromacquiringtheknowledgeoffereddailyinsuchunstintedquantities.ShehadnoillusionsinregardtoLetty'sperson,andfeltthatasshewouldneverbeprettyitwasofimportancethatsheshouldatleastbecultured.Shesatoppositeherdaughterinthetrain,andhavingnothingbettertododuringthelonghoursthattheywerejoltingacrossNorthGermany,lookedatherandthemoreshelookedthemoreunreasoninglyangryshebecamethatPeter'ssistershouldbesoprettyandPeter'sdaughtersoplain.Andthensofat!Whatahorriblethingtohavetotakeafatdaughteraboutwithyouinsociety.Wheredidshegetitfrom?SheherselfandPeterw