CHAPTER XVI
關燈
小
中
大
ngthatherewassomeonewhowasasuneasyunderthetalllady'sstaresasshewasherself.Sheprivatelythoughtherbyfarthebestofthenewarrivals,andwishedsheknewenoughGermantoinquireintoherviewsrespectingSchillertherewassomethingintheFr?ulein'slooksandmannerthatmadeherthinktheywouldagreeaboutSchiller.
Anna,too,endedbytalkingexclusivelytothisgroup.Herattemptstojoininwhattheothersweresayinghadbeenunsuccessfulandwithalittletwingeofdisappointment,andafeelingofbeingforsomeunexplainedreasoncuriouslyoutofit,sheturnedtoFr?uleinKuhr?uber,anddevotedherselfmoreandmoretoher.
"Theyareinseparablesalready,"remarkedthebaronessinalowvoicetoFrauvonTreumann."TheMissfindshercongenial,itseems."Shecouldnotforgivethosedoorsshehadgonethroughlast.
Theprincesslookedupforamomentoverthespectaclessheworewhensheworked,atAnna.
"Fr?uleinKuhr?ubermakesanexcellentfoil,"saidFrauvonTreumann."MissEstcourtlooksquiteetherealnexttoher."
"Doyouthinkherpretty?"askedthebaroness.
"Sheisverydistinguished-looking."
AservantcameinatthatmomentandannouncedDellwig'susualeveningvisit,andAnnagotupandwentout.Theywatchedherasshewalkeddownthelongroom,andwhenshehaddisappearedbegantodiscusshermoreattheirease,theirrapidGermanbeingquiteincomprehensibletoLettyandMissLeech.
"Wherehasshegone?"askedthebaroness.
"Shehasgonetotalktoherinspector,"saidtheprincess.
"Achso,"saidthebaroness.
"Achso,"saidFrauvonTreumann.
"Istheinspectoryoung?"askedthebaroness.
"Ohno,quiteold,"saidtheprincess.
"TheseEnglishareastrangerace,"saidFrauvonTreumann."WhatGermangirlofthatagewouldyoufindwithsomuchenergyandenterprise?"
"Isshesoveryyoung?"inquiredthebaroness,withalookofmildsurprise.
"Why,sheisplainlylittlemorethanachild,"saidFrauvonTreumann.
"Sheistwenty-five,"saidtheprincess.
"Ratheranoldchild,"observedthebaroness.
"Shelooksmuchyounger.Buttwenty-fiveissurelyyoungenoughforthislife,awayfromherownpeople,"saidFrauvonTreumann.
"Yes—whydoessheleadit?"askedthebaronesseagerly."Canyoutellus,FrauPrinzessin?Hasshethenquarrelledwithallherfriends?"
"MissEstcourthasnottoldmeso."
"Butshemusthavequarrelled.EccentricastheEnglishare,therearelimitstotheireccentricity,andnooneleaveshomeandfriendsandcountrywithoutsomegoodreason."AndFrauvonTreumannshookherhead.
"Shehasquarrelled,Iamsure,"saidthebaroness.
"Ithinksotoo,"saidFrauv