CHAPTER XVI

selfkindbut,ontheotherhand,theprincesswashardlygracioustoFrauvonTreumann.AnunbiassedobserverwouldhavesaidthatshedisapprovedofFrauvonTreumann,butwasendeavouringtoconcealherdisapproval.Shebusiedherselfwithherembroideryandtalkedaslittleasshecould,receivingboththeadvancesofFrauvonTreumannandtheattentionsofthebaronesswithequalcoldness. Asforthebaroness,herdoubtsastoAnna'srespectabilitywereblownawaycompletelyandforeverwhen,onopeningthedrawing-roomdoorbeforesupper,shehadbeheldnolessapersonthanthegeboreneDettingenseatedonthesofa.Thebaronesshadspentherlifeinaremoteandtinyprovincialtown,butsheknewthegreatDettingenandPenheimfamilieswellbyname,andaprincessinheropinionwasaprincess,analtogetherpreciousandadmirablecreature,whatevershemightchoosetodo.Herscruples,then,weresetatrest,buthericeasfarasAnnawasconcernedshowednosignsofthawing.Allheramiabilityandhereffortstoproduceagoodimpressionwerelavishedontheprincess,whobesidesbeingbybirthandmarriagethegrandestpersonthebaronesshadyetmet,spokeherowntongueproperly,hadnodimples,anddidnottrytostrokeherhand.ShelookedonwithmingledaweandirritationattheeasymannerinwhichFrauvonTreumanntreatedthisgreatlady.Italmostseemedasthoughshewerepatronisingher.ReallytheseTreumannswereabrazen-facedraceaudaciousEastPrussianJunkers,whothoughtthemselvesasgoodasorbetterthanthebest.AndthisonewasnotevenatrueTreumann,butanIlmas,andoftheinferiorKadensteinbranchandthebaroness'sbrother—thatbrotherwhoseendwassoabrupt—hadbeenquarteredonceduringtheman[oe]uvresatKadenstein,andhadtoldherthatitwasawretchedplace,withafowl-runthatwantedmendingwithinafewyardsofthefrontdoor,andthat,thedoorstandingopenalldaylong,hehadfrequentlymetfowlswalkingaboutinthehallandpassages.Yetrememberingthebrother'sstory,andhowtherewasnoshadowofthesortrestingatpresentonFrauvonTreumann,thoughasshehadasontherewasnotellinghowlonghershadowlessstatewouldlast,shetriedtoingratiateherselfwiththatlady,whometheradvancescoolly,onlywarmingintosomethinglikeresponsivenesswhenFr?uleinKuhr?uberwasinquestion. Fr?uleinKuhr?ubersatbehindLettyandMissLeech,asfarawayfromtheothersasshecould.Shehadastockinginherhand,butshedidnotknit.Sheneverknittedifshecouldavoidit,andwasconsciousthatfromwantofpracticeherneedlesmovedmoreslowlythanisusual—soslowly,indeed,astobeconspicuous.Lettyshowedherphotographsandwasverykindtoher,instinctivelyperceivi