CHAPTER XI

woman.Ofwhatearthlyusewasittobeclevererandmoreamusingthanotherpeopleifatthesametimeyouhadeingepackt? "Whatastupidworlditis,"thoughtTrudi,drivingalongthechausséeintheearlyApriltwilight.Amistlayoverthesea,andthepalesickleoftheyoungmoonroseghost-likeabovethewhiteshroud.Inlandthestarswerefaintlyshining,andalltheearthbeneathwasdampandfragrant.ItwasSaturdayevening,andthetwobellsofLohmchurchwereplaintivelyringingtheirremindertothecountrysidethattheweek'sworkwasendedandGod'sdaycamenext."Oh,thestupidworld,"thoughtTrudi."IfIstayhereIshallbeboredtodeath—thatEstcourtchildandhergovernesshavegotontomynerves—horridfatchildwithturned-intoes,andflabby,bonelesswoman,onlyheldtogetherbyherhairpins.Iamsickofgovernessesandchildren—whereveronegoes,theretheyare.IfIgohome,therearethosenoisylittleboysandFr?uleinSchultzworryingallday,andthenthere'sthattiresomeBillcomingintomeals.AnnaandBibiarejustinthepositionIwouldliketobein—nohusbandsandchildren,andlotsofmoney."Andstaringstraightbeforeher,witheyesdarkwithenvy,shefellintogloomymusingsonthebeautyofBibi'sdress,andtheblindnessoffate,throwingawayadresslikethatonaBibi,whenitwassoeminentlysuitedtotall,slimwomenlikeherselfanditwasfortunateforAxel'speacethatwhenshereachedLohmthefirstthingshesawwasaletterfromtheobjectionableBilltellinghertocomehome,becausetheforeignprincewhowashonorarycoloneloftheregimentwasexpectedimmediatelyinHanover,andthereweretobegreatdoingsinhishonour. Sheleft,allsmiles,thenextmorningbythefirsttrain. "MissEstcourtwillmissyou,"saidAxel,"andwillwonderwhyyoudidnotsaygood-bye.Iamafraidyourjourneywillbeunpleasant,too,to-day.Iwishyouhadstayedtillto-morrow." "Oh,Idon'tmindtheSundaypeopleonceinaway,"saidTrudigaily."AndpleasetellAnnahowitwasIhadtogososuddenly.Ihavestartedher,atleast,withtheworkmenandpeopleshewants.Ishallseeherinafewweeksagain,youknow,whenBillisattheman[oe]uvres." "Afewweeks!Sixmonths." "Well,sixmonths.Youmustbothtrytoexistwithoutmeforthattime." "Youseemverypleasedtobeoff,"hesaid,smiling,assheclimbedbrisklyintothedog-cartandtookthereins,whilehermaid,withherarmsfullofbags,washoistedupbehind. "Oh,sopleased!"saidTrudi,lookingdownathimwithsparklingeyes."Princesandpartiesarejollieranydaythanwhitewashandthebetterlife." "Andbrothers." "Oh—brothers.Bytheway,IneversawBibilookbetterthanshedidyesterday.Shehasimprovedsomuchnobodywouldknow——" "Youwillmissyourtrain,"saidAxel,pullingouthiswatch. "Well,good-byethen,alterJunge.Workhard,doyourduty,anddon'tletyourthoughtslingertoomuchroundstrangeyoungladies.Theyneverdo,Ithinkyousaid?Well,somuchthebetter,forit'snogood,nogood,nogood!"AndTrudi,whowasintremendousspirits,putherwhiptothebrimofherhatbywayofapartingsalute,touchedupthecobs,andrattledoffdownthedriveontheroadtoJungbluthandglory.Sheturnedherheadbeforeshefinallydisappeared,tocallbackheroracular"Nogood!"onceagaintoAxel,whostoodwatchingherfromthestepsofhissolitaryhouse.