CHAPTER XIV

Longbeforethecarriagebringingthethreechosenonesfromthestationcouldpossiblyarrive,AnnaandLettybegantowaitinthehall,standingatthewindows,goingoutontothesteps,lookingintothedifferentroomseveryfewminutestomakesurethateverythingwasready.ThebedroomswerefullofthehepaticasofthemorningthecoffeehadbeensetoutwithinfinitecareandaneyetoeffectbyAnnaherselfonalittletableinthedrawing-roombytheopenwindow,throughwhichthemildAprilaircameinandgentlyfannedthecurtainstoandfroandtheprincesshadbakedherbestcakesfortheoccasion,inwardlydeploring,asshedidso,thatsuchcakesshouldbeofferedtosuchpeople.Whenshehadseenthatallwasasitshouldbe,shewithdrewintoherownroom,wheresheremaineddarningsheets,forshehadaskedAnnatoexcuseherfrombeingpresentatthearrival."Itisbetterthatyoushouldmaketheiracquaintancebyyourself,"shesaid."Thepresenceoftoomanystrangersatfirstmightdisconcertthemunderthecircumstances." MissLeechprofitedbythisremark,madeinherhearing,anddidnotappeareithersothatwhenthecarriagedroveinatthegateonlyAnnaandLettywerestandingatthedoorinthesunshine. Anna'sheartbumpedsoasthethreeslowlydisentangledthemselvesandgotout,thatshecouldhardlyspeak.Herfaceflushedandgrewpalebyturns,andhereyeswereshiningwithsomethingsuspiciouslyliketears.Whatshewantedtodowastoputherarmsrightroundthethreepoorladies,andkissthem,andcomfortthem,andmakeupforalltheirgriefs.Whatshedidwastoputoutaverycold,shakinghand,andsayinavoicethattrembled,"GutenTag." "GutenTag,"saidthefirstladytodescendevidently,fromhermourning,thewidowedFrauvonTreumann. Annatookherextendedhandinbothhers,andclaspingittightlookedatitsownerwithallherheartinhereyes."Esfreutmichso—esfreutmichso,"shemurmuredincoherently. "Ach—youareMissEstcourt?"askedtheladyinGerman. "Yes,yes,"saidAnna,stillclingingtoherhand,"andsohappy,soveryhappytoseeyou." FrauvonTreumannhereuponmadesomeremarkswhichAnnasupposedwereofagratefulnature,butshespokesorapidlyandinsuchsubduedtones,glancingrounduneasilyasshedidsoatthecoachmanandattheothers,andAnnaherselfwassomuchagitated,thatwhatshesaidwasquiteincomprehensible.AgainAnnalongedtothrowherarmsroundthepoorwoman'sneck,andinterruptherwithkisses,andtellherthatgratitudewasnotrequiredofher,butonlythatsheshouldbehappybutshefeltthatifshedidsoshewouldbegintocry,andtearsweresurelyoutofplaceonsuchajoyfuloccasion,especiallyasnobodyelselookedintheleastlikecrying. "YouareFrauvonTreumann,Iknow,"shesaid,holdingherhand,andturningtothenextoneandbeamingonher,"andthisisBaronessElmreich?" "No,no,"saidthethirdladyquickly,"IamBaronessElmreich." Fr?uleinKuhr?uber,anamplepersonwhosebody,swathedintravellingcloaks,hadblottedouttheotherlittlewoman,lookedfrightenedandapologetic,andmadedeepcurtseys. Annashooktheirhandsoneaftertheotherwithallthewarmththatwasg