CHAPTER IX
關燈
小
中
大
alreadyachingwithDellwig'sshoutsandtheparson'semphaticoratory.
Hewassomewherebetweenthirtyandforty,notyoungatall,shethought,havingherselfnevergotoutofthehabitoffeelingveryyoungandbeyondbeinglongandwiry,withnotevenatendencytofat,asshenoticedwithpleasure,therewasnothingstrikingabouthim.HistopbootsandhisgreenNorfolkjacketandgreenfelthatwithalittlefeatherstuckinitgavehimanairofbeingasportsman.Itwasrefreshingtocomeacrosshim,ifonlybecausehedidnotbow.Also,consideringhimfromthetopofthesteps,shebecamesuddenlyconsciousthatDellwigandtheparsonneglectedtheirpersonsmorethanwasseemly.Theywerebothnodoubtveryexcellentbutshedidlikenicelywashedmen.
HerrvonLohmbegantotalkaboutUncleJoachim,withwhomhehadbeenveryintimate.Annacamedownthestepsandhewentafewyardswithher,leavingDellwigstandingatthedoor,andfollowedbytheeyesofDellwig'swife,concealedbehindherbedroomcurtain.
"Ishallbewithyouinonemoment,"calledLohmoverhisshoulder.
"Gut,"saidDellwigandhewentintotellhiswifethattheseEnglishladieswereveryfreewithgentlemen,andtobidhermarkhiswordsthatLohmandKleinwaldewouldbeforelongbeoneestate.
"Andus?Whatwillbecomeofus?"sheasked,eyinghimanxiously.
"Itoowouldliketoknowthat,"repliedherhusband."Thisallcomesofleavinglandawayfromthenaturalheirs."Andwithgreatenergyheproceededtocursethememoryofhislatemaster.
Lohm'sEnglishwassogoodthatitastonishedAnna.Itwasstiffandslow,buthemadenomistakesatall.Hismannerwasgrave,andlookingathimmoreattentivelyshesawtracesonhisfaceofmuchhardworkandanxiety.HetoldherthathismotherhadbeenacousinofUncleJoachim'swife."Sothatthereisaslightrelationshipbymarriageexistingbetweenus,"hesaid.
"Veryslight,"saidAnna,smiling,"faintalmostbeyondrecognition."
"Doesyourniecestaywithyouforanindefiniteperiod?"heasked."Icannotavoidknowingthatthisyoungladyisyourniece,"headdedwithasmile,"andthatsheisherewithhergoverness,andthatLadyEstcourtleftsuddenlyonGoodFriday,becauseallthatconcernsyouisofthegreatestinteresttotheinhabitantsofthisquietplace,andtheytalkoflittleelse."
"Howlongwillittakethemtogetusedtome?Idon'tlikebeinganobjectofinterest.No,LettyisgoinghomeassoonasIhavefoundacompanion.ThatiswhyIamtakingtheinspector'snewspapershomewithme.Ican'tconstructanadvertisementoutofmystoresofGerman,andamgoingtoseeifIcanfindsomethingthatwillserveasmodel."
"Oh,mayIhelpyou?Whatdifficultiesyoumustmeetwitheveryhouroftheday!"
"Ido,"agreedAnna,thinkingofalltherewastobedonebeforeshecouldopenherdo