CHAPTER XIII

einquiry,wouldaloneremainforfurtherconsiderationandofthesethreeorfour,afteryetcloserinquiry,sometimesnotonewouldbeleft. AtfirstAnnaaskedtheprincess'sadviceaswellasManske's,anditwaswhenshewaspresentattheconsultationsthattheheapintowhichthelettersoftheunworthyweregatheredwasbiggest.Allthoseladiesbelongingtothebürgerlicheormiddleclasseswereinhereyeswhollyunworthy.IfAnnahadproposedtotakewasherwomenintoherhome,andrequiredtheprincess'shelpinbrighteningtheirlives,itwouldhavebeengiveninthefullmeasure,presseddownandrunningover,thatbefitsaChristiangentlewomanbutfortheBürgerlichen,thosebelongingtotheclassmoreimmediatelybelowherown,theprincess'sfeelingwasonlyChristiansolongastheykeptagreatwayoff.TherewassomuchgoodsenseintheobjectionsshemadethatAnna,whodidherbesttokeepanopenmindandlistenattentivelytoadvice,wasforcedtoagreewithher,andaddedletterstotheever-increasingheapoftherejectedwhichshemightotherwisehavereservedforriperconsideration.Aftertwoorthreedays,however,itbecamecleartoherthatifshecontinuedtoconsulttheprincess,noonewouldbeacceptedatall,forManske'srespectforthatladywassoprofoundthathewasinvariablyofheropinion.Shedidnot,therefore,inviteheragaintoassistattheinterviews.Still,allshehadsaid,andtheknowledgethatshemustknowherowncountrywomenfairlythoroughly,madeAnnaprudentandsoitcameaboutthatthefirstarrivalsweretobeonlythreeinnumber,chosenwithoutreferencetotheprincess,andoneofthemwasbürgerlich. "Wecanmeanwhileproceedwithourinquiriesabouttheremainingnine,"saidManske,"andthegraciousMisswillbealwaysgainingexperience." Shetrodonairduringthedaysprecedingthearrivalofthechosen.Tosaythatshewasblissfulwouldbebutaninadequatedescriptionofherstateofmind.Theweatherwasbeautiful,anditincreasedherhappinesstenfoldtoknowthattheirnewlifewastobegininsunshine.Shehadneveradoubtastotheirdelightinthesun-chequeredforest,inthefreshnessoftheglitteringsea,inthepeacefulnessofthequietcountrylife,soquietthattheweekseemedtobeallSundays.Werenotthesethingssufficientforherself?Didsheevertireofthoselongpinevistas,withthenarrowstripofclearestbluebetweenthegentlywavingtree-tops?Thedreamymurmuroftheforestgaveheranexquisitepleasure.Toseethebloomonthepinkandgreytrunksofthepines,andthesunonthemossandlichenbeneath,wassodeepasatisfactiontohersoulthatthethoughtthatotherswhohadbeenknockedaboutbylifewouldnotfeelittoo,wouldnotenterwithprofoundestthankfulnessintothisotherworldofpeace,neverstruckheratall.Whenthesepoortiredwomen,freedatlastfromeverycareandeveryanxiety,hadrefreshedthemselveswiththemusicandfragranceoftheforest,therewasthegardenacrosstheroadtoenjoy,withthemarshalreadystrewnwithkingcupsontheothersideofthehedgealreadyturninggreenandtheseawiththefishing-smackspassingupanddown,andthesilvergleamofgulls'wingscirclingroundtheorangesails,andeaglesfloatinghighupaloft,specksintheinfiniteblueandthenthereweredrivesalongthecoasttowardsthenorth,wherethewholesomewindblewfresherthaninthewoodsandquieteveningsinther