CHAPTER XI

NeitherTrudinorAnnahadeverworkedsohardastheydidduringthefewdaysthatendedMarchandbeganApril.Everythingseemedtohappenatonce.Thehousewasinasuddenuproar.Therewerepeoplewhitewashing,peoplepainting,peopleputtinguppapers,peoplebringingthingsincartsfromStralsund,peopletrimmingupthegarden,peoplecomingouttoofferthemselvesasservants,Dellwigcominginandshouting,Manskecomingroundandglorifying—AnnawouldhavebeencompletelybewilderedifithadnotbeenforTrudi,whowaswithheralldaylong,goingaboutwithasquareoflaceandmuslintuckedunderherwaist-ribbonwhichshefeltwasbecomingandsaidwasanapron. Trudiwasenjoyingherselfhugely.ShesawJungbluth'swavesslowlystraighteningthemselvesoutofherhair,andforthefirsttimeinherliferemainedcalmasshewatchedthemgo.SheevenbegantohaveaspirationstowardsUncleJoachim'sbetterlifeherself,andmorethanonceenteredintoaseriousconsiderationoftheadvantagesthatmightresultfromgettingridatonestrokeofBillherhusband,andBillyandTommyhertwosons,andfrommakingafreshstartasoneofAnna'stwelve. FrauManskeandFrauDellwigcouldnotfaceherinfinitesuperciliousnessmorethanonce,andkeptoutofthewayinspiteoftheirburningcuriosity.WhenDellwig'sshoutsbecameintolerable,shedidnothesitatetowinceconspicuouslyandtoputupherhandtoherhead.WhenManskeforgotthatitwasnotSunday,andbegantopreach,shewouldinterrupthimwithabrisk"Ja,ja,sehrsch?n,sehrsch?n,aberlieberHerrPastor,youmusttellusallthisnextSundayinchurchwhenwehavetimetolisten—myfriendhasnotaminutenowinwhichtoappreciatetheopinionsoftheApostelPaulus." "Ibelieveyouarebeingunkindtomyparson,"saidAnna,whocouldnotalwaysunderstandTrudi'srapidGerman,butsawthatManskewentawaydejected. "Mydear,hemustbekeptinhisplaceifhetriestocomeoutofit.Youdon'tknowwhatasetthesepastorsare.Theyarenotlikeyourclergymen.Ifyouaretookindtothatmanyou'llhavenopeace.Irememberinmyfather'stimehecametodinnereverySunday,satatthebottomofthetable,andwhenthepuddingappearedmadeabowandwentaway." "Hedidn'tlikepudding?" "Idon'tknowifhelikeditornot,buthenevergotany.Itwasagoodoldcustomthatthepastorshouldwithdrawbeforethepudding,andAxelhasnotkeptitup.Myfatherneverhadanybotherwithhim." "Butwhathasthepuddingthathedidn'tgettenyearsagotodowithyourbeingunkindtohimnow?" "Iwantedtoexplaintheproperfootingforhimtobeon." "Andtheproperfootingisapuddinglessone?Well,inmyhouseneitherpuddingnorkindnessinsuitablequantitiesshallbewithheldfromhim,sodon'till-usehimmorethanyoufeelisabsolutelynecessaryforhisgood." "Oh,youareadearlittlething!"saidTrudi,puttingherhandsonAnna'sshouldersandlookingintohereyes—theywerebothtallyoungwomen,andtheireyeswereonalevel—"Iwonderwhattheendofyouwillbe.Whenyouknowallthesepeoplebetteryou'llseethatmywayoftreatingthem,whichyouthinkunkind,istheonlyway.Youmustturnupyournoseashighasitwillgoatthem,andtheywillburstwithrespect.Don'tbetoofriendlyandconfiding—theywon'tunderstandit,andwillbesuretothinkthatsomethingmustbewrongaboutyou,andwillbegintobackbiteyou,andinv