CHAPTER IV

gswithaclearnessofvisionthatwasstartling? Onthelawyer,akeen-eyedmanwithaconspicuouslyfineface,Annamadeanentirelyfavourableimpression.Whenhesawthisgraciousyounglady,sosimpleandsofriendly,andlookedintoherfrankandcharmingeyes,heperfectlyunderstoodthatoldJoachimshouldhavebeenbewitched.Butafteralittleconversation,itappearedthatshehadnopresentintentionofcarryingoutheruncle'swishes,but,settingthemcoollyaside,proposedtospendallthegoodGermanmoneyshecouldextractfromherpropertyinthatrepleteandbloatedland,England. ThisannoyedhimfirstbecausehehatedEnglandandthenbecausehisfatherhadmanagedoldJoachim'saffairsbeforehehimselfhadsteppedintothepaternalshoes,andthefeelingofbothfatherandsonfortheoldmanhadbeenconsiderablywarmerthanisusualbetweenlawyerandclient.Stillhecouldnotbelieve,judgingafterthemannerofmen,thatanythingsoprettycouldalsobeunkindandscrutinisingLadyEstcourt,becauseshewasunattractiveandhadasharplittlefaceandarestlesslittlebody,hewasconvincedthatsheitwaswhowasthecauseofthissettingasideofadeadbenefactor'swishes.Susie,forherpart,patronisedhimbecausehiscollarturneddown. WheneverLettythoughtafterwardsofBerlin,shethoughtofitasaplacewhereallthehousesaremuseums,andwhereyoudrinksomanycupsofchocolatewithwhippedcreamonthetopthatyouseethingsdoublefortherestofthetime. Annathoughtofitasacharmingplace,wheredelightfullawyersfillyourpursewithmoney. Susiethoughtofitwithsatisfactionastheoneplaceabroadwhere,bydintofsternesteconomy,walksfromsighttosightintherain,andpromiscuouscakesinsteadofthemoresatisfactorybutlesscheapmealsLettycalledsquare,shehadsuccessfullydefendedherselffrombeing,assheputit,fleeced. ToMissLeech,itwasmerelyaplacewhereyourfeetgetwet,andyourclothesarespoilt. EarlythenextmorningtheystartedforKleinwalde.