CHAPTER XI

redictedabrilliantfutureforhisonlydaughtertowhichManskehadlistenedrespectfullyasindutybound,andhadgonehomeunconvinced. ButAnnadidnotlethimstandlonginthehall,andcametofetchhimandbeghimtohelpherreadthelettersandtellherwhathethoughtofthem.InspiteofTrudi'sadviceandexampleshecontinuedtotreatthepastorwiththedeferenceduetoagoodandsimpleman.Whatdiditmatterifhetalkedtwiceasmuchasheneedhavedone,andweariedherwithhishabitofpuffingChristianityasthoughitwereaquackmedicineofwhichhewasthespecialpatron?Hewassincere,hereallybelievedsomething,andreallyfeltsomething,andafterfivedayswithTrudiAnnaturnedtoManske'selementaryconvictionswithrelief.InfivedaysshehadcometobeverygladthatTrudistoodinnoneedofaplaceamongthetwelve. Mostofthewomenwhowroteinanswertotheadvertisementsentphotographs,andtheirletterswerepitifulenough,eitherbecauseofwhattheysaidorbecauseofwhattheytriedtohideandAnna'sappreciationofTrudireceivedagreatshockwhenshefoundthatthelettersamusedher,andthatthephotographs,especiallythoseoftheoldonesortheuglyones,movedhertoamirthlittleshortofunseemly.Afterall,Trudiwastakingagreatdealuponherself,Annathought,readingthelettersunasked,helpinghertoopenthemunasked,hurryingdowntofetchthemunasked,anddelugingherwithadviceaboutthemunasked.Shesawshehadmadeamistakeinallowinghertoseethematall.ShehadnorighttoexposethepetitionsoftheseunhappycreaturestoTrudi'sinquisitiveanddivertedeyes.ThisfactwasmadeverypatenttoherwhenoneofthelettersthatTrudiopenedturnedouttobefromapersonshehadknown."Why,"criedTrudi,herfacetwinklingwithexcitement,"here'sonefromagirlwhowasatschoolwithme.Andherphoto,too—whatashockingscarecrowshehasgrowninto!SheisonlytwoyearsolderthanIam,butmightbeforty.Justlookather—andsheusedtothinknoneofusweregoodenoughforher.Don'thaveher,whateveryoudo—shemarriedoneoftheofficersinBill'sfirstregiment,andtreatedhimsoshamefullythatheshothimself.Imagineherboldnessinwritinglikethis!"Andshebeganeagerlytoreadtheletter. Annagotupandtookitoutofherhands.Itwasanunexpectedaction,orTrudiwouldhaveheldontighter."Sheneverdreamedyouwouldseewhatshewrote,"saidAnna,"anditwouldbedishonourableofmetoletyou.Andtheotherletterstoo—Ihavebeenthinkingitover—theyareonlymeantformeandnooneelse,exceptperhapstheparson,oughttoseethem." "Exceptperhapstheparson!"criedTrudi,greatlyoffended."Andwhyexceptperhapstheparson?" "Ican'talwaysreadtheGermanwriting,"explainedAnna. "Butsurelyawomanofyourownage,whoisn'tsuchasimpletonastheparson,isthebestadviseryoucanhave." "Butyoulaughattheletters,andtheyareallsounhappy." TrudiwentbacktoLohmearlythatday."ShehastakenitintoherheadthatIamnottoreadtheletters,"shesaidtoherbrotherwithnolittleindignation. "Itwouldbeagreatbreachofconfidenceifsheallowedyouto,"herepliedwhichwassounsatisfactorythatshedroveintoStralsundthatveryafternoon,andconsoledherselfwiththepliableBibi. Bibi'snoseseemedmoreunsuccessfulthaneverafterhavinghadAnna'sbeforeherfornearlyaweekbutthentherichnessof