CHAPTER IX

Thenextmorningearly,AnnawentovertothefarmtoaskDellwigtolendheranynewspapershemighthave.Shewasanxioustoadvertiseassoonaspossibleforacompanion,andnowthatsheknewoftheexistenceofsisterHelena,thoughtitbettertowritethisadvertisementwithouttheparson'said,copyinganyotheroneofthesortthatshemightseeinthepapers.UntilshehadsecuredtheservicesofaGermanladywhowouldtellherhowtosetaboutthereformssheintendedmakinginherhouse,shewasperfectlyhelpless.Shewantedtoputherhomeinorderquickly,sothatthetwelveunhappyonesshouldnotbekeptwaitingandthereweremanythingstobedone.Servants,furniture,everything,wasnecessary,andshedidnotknowwheresuchthingsweretobehad.Shedidnotevenknowwherewasherwomenwereobtainable,andFrauDellwigneverseemedtobeathomewhenshesentforher,orwenttoherseekinginformation.OnGoodFriday,afterSusie'sdeparture,shehadsentamessagetothefarmdesiringtheattendanceoftheinspector'swife,whomshewishedtoconsultaboutthedinnertobepreparedfortheManskes,allprovisionsapparentlypassingthroughFrauDellwig'shandsandshehadbeentoldthattheladywasatchurch.OnSaturdaymorning,disturbedbytheemptinessofherlarderandtheimminenceofherguests,shehadgoneherselftothefarm,butwastoldthattheladywasinthecow-sheds—inwhichcow-shednobodyexactlyknew.AnnahadbeenforcedtoaskDellwigaboutthefood.OnSundayshetookLettywithher,abashedbythewhisperingsandstaringsshehadhadtoendurewhenshewentalone.Noronthisoccasiondidsheseetheinspector'swife,andshebegantowonderwhathadbecomeofher. TheDellwigs'wrathandamazementwhentheyfoundthattheparsonandhiswifehadbeeninvitedtodinnerandtheythemselvesleftoutwasindescribable.Neverhadsuchaninsultbeenofferedthem.Theyhadalwaysbeenthefirstpeopleoftheirclassintheplace,alwaysheldtheirheadsupandcondescendedtotheclergy,alwaysbeenhelpedfirstattable,gonefirstthroughdoors,satintheright-handcornersofsofas.Ifhewasfurious,shewasstillmoreso,filledwithvenomandhatredunutterablefortheinnocent,butitmustbeaddedoverjoyed,FrauManskeandthoughherowninterestdemandedit,shewasaltogetherunabletobringherselftomeetAnnaforthepurpose,assheknew,ofbeingconsultedaboutthemenutobeofferedtothewretchedupstart.Indeed,FrauDellwig'spositionwassimilartothatpainfuloneinwhichSusiefoundherselfwhenherinfluentialLondonacquaintanceleftheroutoftheinvitationstotheweddingonwhichoccasion,asweknow,SusiehadbeenconstrainedtofleetoGermanyinordertoescapethecommentsofherfriends.FrauDellwigcouldnotfleeanywhere.Shewasobligedtostaywhereshewasandbearitasbestshemight,humiliatedintheeye