CHAPTER IX

關燈
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