CHAPTER XV

u—theyknewIknewyouruncle—butthePenheim—thePenheim——"andFrauvonTreumannthrewherselfintoachairandcoveredherfacewithherhandstoshutoutthehorridvision. ThecornersofAnna'smouthbegantotaketheupwarddirectionthatwouldendinasmileandfeelinghowill-placedsuchacontortionwouldbeinthepresenceofthistumultuousgrief,shebroughtthemcarefullybacktoapositionofpropersolemnity.Besides,whyshouldshesmile?Thepoorladywasclearlydesperatelyunhappyaboutsomething,thoughwhatitwasAnnadidnotquiteknow.Shehadlookedforwardtothisfirsteveningwithhernewfriendsastoathingapart,athingbeyondtheordinaryexperienceoflife,profoundinitspeace,perfectinitsharmony,thefirsttasteofrestafterwar,ofportafterstormyseasandherewasFrauvonTreumannplungedinaveryaudiblegrief,andinthenextroomwasthebaroness,adisconcertingcombinationofinquisitivenessandice,andfartherdownthepassagewasFr?uleinKuhr?uber—inwhatstate,Annawondered,wouldshefindFr?uleinKuhr?uber?Anyhowshehadlittlereasontosmile.ButthehorrorwithwhichPrincessLudwighadbeenmentionedseemeddrollbesideherownknowledgeofthesterlingqualitiesofthatexcellentwoman.ShewentovertothechairinwhichFrauvonTreumannlayprostrate,andsatdownbesideher.Shewasgladthattheyhadreachedthestageofsittingdown,fortalkingisdifficulttoapersonwhowillnotkeepstill. "HowsorryIam,"shesaid,inherpretty,hesitatingGerman,"thatyoushouldhavebeenmadeunhappytheveryfirstevening.Marieisalittlewretch.Don'tletherstupiditymakeyoumiserable.Youshallnotseeheragain,Ipromiseyou."AndshepattedFrauvonTreumann'sarm."ButaboutPrincessLudwig,now,"shewentoncheerfully,"shehasbeenheresomeweeksandyousoonlearntoknowapersonyouarewitheveryday,andreallyIhavefoundhernothingbutgoodandkind." "Ach,sheisshameless—sherecoilsbeforenodegradation!"burstoutFrauvonTreumann,suddenlyremovingherhandsfromherface."Thetroubleshehasgivenherrelations!Shedelightsindragginghernameinthedirt.Shehastriedtogetplacesinthemostimpossiblefamilies,andmadenoattempttohidewhatshewasdoing.ShehasbrokentheoldFürst'sheart.Andshetalksaboutitall,andhasnoshame,nodecency——" "Butisitnotadmirable——"beganAnna. "Shewillgloatoverme,andtelleveryonethatIamhereinthesamewayassheis.Ifsheisnotashamedforherself,doyouthinkshewillspareme?" "Butwhyshouldyouthinkthereisanythingtobeashamedofincomingtolivewithmeandbemydearfriend?" "No,thereisnothing,solongasmymotivesincomingareknown.Butpeopletalksocruelly,andwilldistortthefactssogladly,andwehavealwaysheldourheadssohigh.AndnowthePenheim!"Shesobbedafresh. "Ishallasktheprincessnottowritetoanyoneaboutyourbeinghere." "Ach,Iknowher—shewilldoitallthesame." "No,Idon'tthinkso.ShedoeseverythingIask.Yousee,shetakescareofmyhouseforme.Sheisnothereinthesamewaythat—thatyouandBaronessElmreichare,andherinterestistostayhere." FrauvonTreumann'sbowedheadwentupwithajerk."Ach?Shehasfoundaplaceatlast?Sheisyourpaidcompanion?Yourhousekeeper?" "Yes,andsheisgoodnessitself,andIdon'tbelieveshewouldbeunkindandmakemischiefforworlds." "Achso!"saidFrauvonTreumann,"achso-o-o-o!"—alongdrawnoutsoofcompletecomprehension.Hertearsceasedasifbymagic.Shedriedhereyes.Yes,ofcoursethePenheimwouldholdhertongueifMissEstcourtorderedhertodoso.Shehadheardallabouthereffortstofindplaces,andshewouldprobablybeverycarefulnottolosethisone.ThepoorPenheim.Soshewasactuallyworkingforwages.Whatacome-downforaDettingen!AndtheDettingenshadalwaystreatedtheTreumannsasthoughtheybelongedmerelytothekleineAdel.Well,well,eachoneinturn.Shewasthedearfriend,andthePenheimwasthehousekeeper.Well,well. Shesatupstraight,smoothedherhair,andresumedherfirstmannerofquietdignity."Iamsorrythatyoushouldhavewitnessedmyagitation,"shesaid,withafaintsmile."Iamnoteasilybetrayedintoexhibitionsoffeeling,buttherearelimitstoone'sendurance,therearecertainthingsthebravestcannotbear." "Yes,"saidAnna. "AndforaTreumann,socialdisgrace,anyactionthatintheleastsoilsourhonourandmakesusunabletoholdupourheads,isworsethandeath." "ButIdon'tseeanydisgrace." "No,no,thereisnonesolongasfactsarenotdistorted.Itisquitesimple—youneedfriendsandIamwillingtobeyourfriend.Thatwashowmysonlookedatit.Hesaid'LiebeMama,sheevidentlyneedsfriendsandsympathy—whyshouldyouhesitatetomakeyourselfofuse?Youmustregarditasagoodwork.'Youwouldlikemysonhisbrotherofficersadorehim." "Really?"saidAnna. "Heissosensible,soreasonableheisbelovedandrespectedbythewholeregiment.Iwillshowyouhisphotograph—ach,thetrunksarestillunstrapped." "I'llgoandsendsomeone—butnotMarie,"saidAnna,gettingupquickly.Shehadnodesiretoseethephotograph,andtheson'swayoflookingatthingshadconsiderablyastonishedher."Itmustbenearlysuppertime.Wouldyounotratherliedownandletmesendyouso