CHAPTER IX

softhewholeneighbourhood,anobjectofderisiontoherverymilkmaids.Philosopherssmileatsuchtrialsbuttopersonswhoarenotphilosophers,andatKleinwaldethesewereinthemajority,theyaremoredifficulttoendurethananyfamilybereavement.Thereisnodignityaboutthem,andfriends,insteadofsympathising,rejoicemoreorlessopenlyaccordingtothedegreeoftheircivilisation.ThedegreeofcivilisationamongFrauDellwig'sfriendswasnotgreat,andtherejoicingsonthenextSundaywhentheyallmetwouldbebutill-concealedtherewasnoescapefromthem,theyhadtobefaced,andthemaliciouscondolencesacceptedwithwhatcountenanceshecould.Insteadofmakingsausages,therefore,sheshutherselfinherbedroomandwept. AndsoitcameaboutthattheunconsciousAnna,whoseonedesirewastoliveatpeacewithherneighbours,madetwoenemieswithintwodays."Allwomen,"saidDellwigtohiswife,"highandlow,arealike.Unlesstheyhaveahusbandtokeepthemintheirrightplaces,theybecomereligiousandrunafterpastors.Manskehaswormedhimselfinverycleverly,trulyverycleverly.Butwewillwormhimoutagainwithequalcleverness.Asforhiswife,whatcanstthouexpectfromsogreatafool?" "No,indeed,fromherIexpectnothing,"repliedhiswife,tossingherhead,"butfromthenieceofourlatemasterIexpectedthebehaviourofalady."Andatthatmoment,thenieceofherlatemasterbeingannounced,shefledintoherbedroom. Anna,friendlyasever,speciallykindtoDellwigsincehistearsonthenightofherarrival,camewithLettyintothegloomylittleofficewherehewasworking,withallthemorningsunshineinherface.Thoughshewasperplexedbymanythings,shewasintenselyhappy.Theperfectfreedom,afterheryearsofservitude,waslikeheaven.Hereshewasinherownhome,fromwhichnobodycouldtakeher,freetoarrangeherlifeasshechose.Oh,itwasabeautifulworld,andthisthemostbeautifulcornerofit!ShewassuretheskywasblueratKleinwaldethaninotherplaces,andthatthelarkssanglouder.Andthenwasshenotontheveryvergeofrealisingherdreamsofbringingthelightofhappinessintodarkandhopelesslives?Oh,thebeautiful,beautifulworld!ShecameintoDellwig'sroomwiththeloveofitshininginhereyes. Hewasasobsequiousasever,forunfortunatelyhisbreadandbutterdependedonthisperverseyoungwomanbuthewasalsograverandlesstalkative,consideringwithinhimselfthathecouldnotbeexpectedtopassoversuchaslightwithoutsomealterationinhismanner.Heought,hefelt,toshowthathewaspained,andheoughttoshowitsounmistakablythatshewouldperhapsbeledtooffersomeexplanationofherconduct.Accordinglyheassumedthesubduedbehaviourofonewhosefeelingshavebeenhurt,andAnnathoughthowgreatlyheimprovedonacquainta