CHAPTER XVI

onTreumann"Ithoughtsofromthefirst.Mysonalsothoughtso.YourememberKarlchen,princess?" "Perfectly." "Idiscussedthequestionthoroughlywithhim,ofcourse,astowhetherIshouldcomehereornot.IconfessIdidnotwanttocome.Itwasagreatwrench,givingupeverything,andgoingsofarfrommyson.Butafterallonemustnotbeselfish."AndFrauvonTreumannsighedandpaused. Noonesaidanything,soshecontinued:"Onefeels,asonegrowsolder,howgreataretheclaimsofothers.Andawidowwithonlyonesoncandosomuch,canmakeherselfofsomuchuse.ThatiswhatKarlchensaid.WhenIhesitated—forIfearonedoeshesitatebeforeinconvenience—hesaid,'LiebsteMama,itwouldbeacharitytogotothepooryounglady.Youwhohavealwaysbeenthefirsttoextendasympathetichandtothefriendless,howisitthatyouhesitatenow?Dependuponit,shehashaddifferencesathomeandneedscountenanceandhelp.Youhavenoencumbrances.Youcangomoreeasilythanothers.Youmustregarditasagoodwork.'Andthatdecidedme." Theprincessletherworkdropforamomentintoherlap,andgazedoverherspectaclesatFrauvonTreumann."Wirklich?"shesaidinavoiceofdeepinterest."Thosewereyourreasons?Aberherrlich." "Yes,thoseweremyreasons,"repliedFrauvonTreumann,returninghergazewithpensivebutsteadyeyes."Thoseweremychiefreasons.Iregarditasaworkofcharity." "Butthisisnoble,"murmuredtheprincess,resumingherwork. "ThatishowIhaveregardedit,"putinthebaroness."Iagreewithyouentirely,dearFrauvonTreumann." "Idonotpretendtodisguise,"wentonFrauvonTreumann,"thatitisaneconomyformetolivehere,butpoorasIhavebeensincemydearhusband'sdeath—yourememberKarl,princess?" "Perfectly." "PoorasIhavebeen,Ialwayshadsufficientformysimplewants,andshouldnothavedreamedofalteringmylifeifMissEstcourt'slettershadnotbeensoappealing." "Ach—theywereappealing?" "Oh,aheartofstonewouldhavebeenmeltedbythem.Andawidow'sheartisnotofstone,asyoumustknowyourself.Theorphanappealingtothewidow—itwasirresistible." "Well,youseesheisnotbyanymeansalone,"saidtheprincesscheerfully."Hereweare,fiveofuscountingthelittleLetty,surroundingher.Soyoumustnotsacrificeyourselfunnecessarily." "Oh,Iamnotoneofthosewhohavingputtheirhandtotheplough——" "Butwhereistheplough,dearFrauvonTreumann?Youseethereis,afterall,noplough." "Dearprincess,youalwaysweresoliteral." "Ah,youusedtoreproachmewiththatintheolddays,whenyouwrotepoetryandreadittomeandIwasrudeenoughtoaskifitmean