CHAPTER XI

thegirl!Andsuchagood-natured,generousgirl,whowouldadorehersister-in-lawandmakeherpresents.ContemplatingthegoodBibiinherafternoonsplendourfromParis,Trudi'sheartstirredwithinheratthethoughtofallthatwaswithinAxel'sreachifonlyhecouldbeinducedtoputouthishandandtakeit.Annawouldnevermarryhim,Trudiwascertain—wouldnevermarryanyone,beingcompletelyengrossedbyherphilanthropicfolliesbutifshedid,whatwasherprobableincomecomparedtoBibi's?AndAxelwouldneverlookatBibisolongasthatothergirllivednextdoortohimnobodycouldexpecthimto.Annawastooprettyitwasnotfair.AndBibiwassoveryplainwhichwasnotfaireither. TheRegierungspr?sidentin,acousinbymarriageofBibi's,butamemberofanancientfamilyoftheMark,wasdelightedtoseeTrudiandtoquestionheraboutthenewandeccentricarrival.TrudihadofferedtotakeAnnatocallonthislady,andhadexplainedthatitwasherdutytocallbutAnnahadsaidtherewasnohurry,andhadtalkedofsomeday,andhadbeenmanifestlyboredbytheprospectofmakingnewacquaintances. "Isshequite—quiteinherrightsenses?"askedtheRegierungspr?sidentin,whenTrudihaddescribedalltheyhadbeendoinginAnna'shouse,andallAnnameanttodowithhermoney,andhadmadeherdescriptionsosmartanddivertingthattheRegierungspr?sidentin,analertlittlelady,withearsperpetuallyprickedupinthehopeofcatchinggossip,feltthatshehadnotenjoyedanafternoonsomuchforyears. Bibisatlisteningwithhermouthwideopen.Itwasanartlesswayofherswhenshewasmuchinterestedinaconversation,andwasdeploredbythosewhowishedherwell. "Oh,yes,sheisquiteinhersenses.Rathertoosuresheknowsbest,always,butquiteinhersenses." "Thensheisveryreligious?" "Notintheordinaryway,Ishouldthink.Shegoesinfornature.GottinderNatur,andthatsortofthing.Ifthesunshinesmorethanusualshegoesandstandsinit,andturnsuphereyesandgushes.There'sacrocusinthegarden,andwhenwecametoityesterdayshestoppedinfrontofitandrhapsodisedfortenminutesaboutthingsthathavenothingtodowithcrocuses—chieflyabouttheliebenGott.AndallinEnglish,ofcourse,anditsoundsworseinEnglish." "Butthen,mydear,sheisreligious?" "Oh,well,thepastorwouldnotcallitreligion.It'sasortofhuddle-muddlepantheismasfarasitisanythingatall."FromwhichitwillbeseenthatTrudiwasevenmorefrankaboutherfriendsbehindtheirbacksthanshewastotheirfaces. ShedrovebacktoLohminadiscontentedframeofmind."What'sthegoodofanything?"wasthemoodshewasin.Shehadover-tiredherselfhelpingAnna,andshewasafraidthatbeingsomuchincoldroomsandpassages,andwashinginhardwater,hadmadeherskincoarse.ShehadcaughtsightofherselfinaglassasshewasleavingtheRegierungspr?sidentin,andhadbeendisconcertedbyfindingthatshedidnotlookasprettyasshefelt.NorwassheconsoledforthisbytheconsciousnessthatshehadbeenunusuallyamusingatAnna'sexpenseforshewasonlytoocertainthattheRegierungspr?sidentin,whenrepeatingallshehadtoldhertoherfriends,wouldaddthatTrudiHasdorfhadterriblyeingepackt—dreadfulword,descriptiveofthefadedstateimmediatelyprecedingwrinkles,andheldinjustabhorrencebyeveryself-respecting