CHAPTER VI

Alow,white,two-storiedhouse,separatedfromtheforestonlybyacirculargrassplotandaditchwithhalf-meltedsnowinitandmuddywater,ahouseapparentlyquitebyitselfamongthecreakingpines,neitherveryoldnorverynew,withagreatmanywindows,andabrown-tiledroof,wasthehomebestowedbyUncleJoachimonhisdearandonlynieceAnna. "SothisiswhereIwastoleadthebetterlife?"shethought,asthecarriagedrewupatthedoor,andthemoaningoftheuneasytrees,andallthelonelysoundsofastorm-beatenforestreplacedtherattlingofthewheelsinherears."Thebetterlife,then,isalifeofuttersolitude,UncleJoachimthought?IwishIknew—IwishIknew——"Butwhatitwasshewishedsheknewwashardlyclearinhermindandherthoughtswereinterruptedbyaveryuntidy,surprised-lookingmaid-servant,capless,andinfeltslippers,whohaddarteddownthestepsandwasunfasteningtheleatherapronandpullingouttherugswithhasty,agitatedhands,andtryingtopullSusieoutaswell. Thedoorwaywasgarlandedwithevergreenwreaths,overwhichagreenandwhiteflagflappedandcurtseyingandsmilingbeneaththewreathsstoodDellwig'swife,ashortladywithsmoothhair,weather-beatenface,andbrownsilkgloves,whowouldhavebeenthestoutestpersonAnnahadeverseenifshehadnotjustcomefromthepresenceoftheparson'swife. "Ineversawsomanybowsinmylife,"grumbledSusie,pushingtheservantaside,andgettingoutcautiously,feelingverystiffandcoldandmiserable."Letty,youareonmydress—oh,howd'youdo—howd'youdo,"shemurmuredfrostily,astheFrauInspectorseizedherhandandbegantotalkGermantoher."Anna,areyoucoming?This—er—personthinksI'myou,andismakingmeaspeech." Dellwig,whohadsenthishorseawayinchargeofasmallboy,rapidlyexplainedtohiswifethattheyoungladynowgettingoutofthecarriagewastheirlatemaster'sniece,andthattheotheronemustbethesister-in-lawmentionedinthelawyer'sletteruponwhichFrauDellwigletSusiego,andtransferredhersmilesandwelcometoAnna.Susiewentintothehousetogetoutofthecold,onlytofindherselfinasquarehallwhoseicinesswastheintolerableicinessofaplaceinwhichnosunhadbeenallowedtoshineandnowindowshadbeenopenedforsummerswithoutnumber.WhenUncleJoachimcamedownhelivedintworoomsatthebackofthehouse,withadoorleadingintothegardenthroughwhichhewenttothefarm,andthehallhadneverbeenused,andtheclosedshuttersneveropened.Therewasnofireplace,orstove,orheatingarrangementofanysort.Glassdoorsdivideditfromaninnerandstillmorespacioushall,withawidewoodenstaircase,anddoorsallroundit.Thewallsinbothhallswerepaintedgrassgreenandfromlittlechainsintheceilingstuffedhawksandeagles,shotbyUncleJoachim,andgrownwithyearsverydustyandmoth-eaten,hungswinginginthedraught.Thefloorwasboarded,andwasstilldampfromarecentscrubbing.Therewasnocarpet.Awoodenbracketonthewall,withbrasshooks,heldalargeassortmentofwhipsandhuntingcropsandinonecornerstoodanarrangementforcoats,withUncleJoachim'svariouswaterproofsandhead-coveringshangingmonumentallyonitspegs. "Oh,howdreadful!"thoughtSusie,shiveringmoreviolentlythanever."Andwhatamustysmell—it'sdamp,ofcourse,andIshallbelaidup.PoorHilton!Whatwillshethinkofthis?Oh,howd'youdo,"sheaddedaloud,asafemalefigureinawhiteapronsuddenlyemergedfromthegloomandtookherhandandkissedit"Anna,who'sthis?Anna!Aren'tyoucoming?Here'ssomebodykissingmyhand." "It'sthecook,"saidAnna,comingintotheinnerhallwiththeothers,Dellwigandhiswifekeepingoneoneithersideofher,andbothtalkingatonceintheiranxietytomakeagoodimpression. "Thecook?Thentellhertogiveussomefood.IshalldieifIdon'thavesomethingsoon.Doyouknowwhattimeitis?Pastfour.Can'tyougetridofthesepeople?Andwhere'sHilton?" SusiehardlyseemedtoseetheDellwigs,andtalkedtoAnnawhiletheyweretalkingtoherasthoughtheydidnotexist.IfAnnafeltanobligationtobepolitetothesedifferentpersonsshefeltnoneatall.TheydidnotunderstandEnglish,butiftheyhaditwouldnothavematteredtoher,andshewouldhavegoneontalkingaboutthemasthoughtheyhadnotbeenthere. BoththeDellwigshadveryloudvoices,soSusiehadtoraisehersinordertobeheard,andtherewasconsequentlysuchanoiseintheempty,echoinghouse,thatafterlookingroundbewildered,andtryingtoanswereverybodyatonce,Annagaveitup,andstoodandlaughed. "Idon'tseeanythingtolaughat,"saidSusiecrossly,"weareallstarving,andthesepeoplewon'tgo." "ButhowcanImakethemgo?" "They'reyourservants,Isuppose.IshouldjustsaythatI'dsendforthemwhenIwantedthem." "They'dbeverymuchastonished.ThemanissofarfrombeingmyservantthatIbelievehemeanstobemymaster." ThetwoDellwigs,perplexedbyAnna'slaughterwhennobodyhadsaidanythingamusing,anduneasylestsheshouldbelaughingatsomethingaboutthemselves,lookedfromhertoSusiesuspiciously,andforthatbriefmomentwerequiet. "Wirsindhungrig,"saidAnnatothewife. "Thefoodcomesimmediately,"sherepliedandhastenedawaywiththecookandtheotherservantthroughadoorevidentlyleadingtothekitchen. "Undkalt,"continuedAnnaplaintivelytothehusband,whoatonceflungopenanotherdoor,throughwhichtheysawatablespreadfordinner."Bitte,bitte,"hesaid,usheringtheminasthoughtheplacebelongedtohim. "Doesthispersonliveinthehouse?"inquiredSusie,eyinghimwithlittlegoodwill. "Hetoldmehelivesatthefarm.Butofcoursehehasalwayslookedaftereverythinghere." Whentheywereallinthedining-room,driveninbyDellwig,asSusieremarked,likeaflockofsheepbyashepherddeterminedtostandnononsense,hehelpedthemwithofficiouspolitenesstotakeofftheirwraps,andthen,bowingalmosttotheground,askedpermissiontowithdrawwhiletheHerrschaftenate,apermissionthatwasgivenwithalacrity,Anna'sfacefalling,however,uponhisinformingherthathewouldcomeroundlateroninordertolayhisplansforthesummerbeforeher. "Whatdoeshesay?"askedSusie,asthedoorshutbehindhim. "He'scomingroundagainlateron." "Thatman'sgoingtobeanuisance—youseeifheisn't,"saidSusiewithcon