CHAPTER XVII

AxelLohmwasinthehall,havinghiscoattakenfromhimbyaservant. "Youhere?"exclaimedAnna,holdingoutbothhands.Shewasmorethanusuallypleasedtoseehim. "Manskehadapileoflettersforyou,andcouldnotgetthemtoyoubecausehehasapastors'conferenceathishouse.Iwasthereandsawtheletters,andthoughtyoumightwantthem." "Oh,Idon'twantthem—atleast,thereisnohurry.Butthelettersareonlyanexcuse.Nowisn'titso?" "Anexcuse?"herepeated,flushing. "Youwanttoseethenewarrivals." "Notintheveryleast." "Oh,oh!Butasyouhavecomeoneminutetoosoon,andhappenedtomeetmeoutsidethedoor,yourplanisspoilt.Arethosetheletters?Whatapile!"Herfacefell. "Butyouarelookingforninemoreladies.Youwantawidechoice.Youhavestillthegreaterpartofyourworkbeforeyou." "Iknow.Whydoyoutellmethat?" "Becauseyoudonotseempleasedtogetthem." "Ohyes,IambutIamtiredto-night,andtheideaofninemoreladiesmakesmefeel—feelsleepy." Shestoodunderthelamp,holdingthepacketlooselybyitsstringandsmilinguptohim.Therewereshadowsinhereyes,hethought,wherehewasusedtoseeingtwocheerfullittlelightsshining,andafaintruefulnessinthesmile. "Well,ifyouaretiredyoumustgotobed,"hesaid,insuchamatteroffacttonethattheybothlaughed. "No,Imustn't,"saidAnna"IamonmywaytoHerrDellwigatthisverymoment.He'sinthere,"shesaid,withamotionofherheadtowardsthedining-roomdoor."Tellme,"sheadded,loweringhervoice,"haveyougotabrick-kilnatLohm?" "Abrick-kiln?No.Whydoyouwanttoknow?" "Butwhyhaven'tyougotabrick-kiln?" "Becausethereisnothingtomakebrickswith.Lohmisalmostentirelysand." "Hesaysthereissplendidclayhereinonepart,andwantstobuildone." "Who?Dellwig?" "Sh—sh." "Yourunclewouldhavebuiltonelongagoiftherereallyhadbeenclay.Imustlookattheplacehemeans.Icannotrememberanysuchplace.Anditisunlikelythatitshouldbeashesays.Praydonotagreetoanypropositionsofthekindhastily." "Itwouldcostheapstosetitgoing,wouldn'tit?" "Yes,andprobablybringinnothingatall." "Buthetriestomakeoutthatitwouldbequitecheap.Hesaysthetimbercouldallbegotoutoftheforest.Ican'tbearthethoughtofcuttingdownalotoftrees." "Ifyoucan'tbearthethoughtofanythingheproposes,thensimplyrefusetoconsiderit." "Buthetalksandtalkstillitreallyseemsthatheisright.Hetoldmejustnowthatitwoulddoublethevalueoftheestate." "Idon'tbelieveit." "IfImadebricks,accordingtohimIcouldtakeintwiceasmanypoorladies." "Ibelieveyouwillbehappierwithfewerladiesandnobricks,"saidAxelwithgreatpositiveness. Annastoodthinking.Hereyeswerefixedonthetipofthefingershehadpassedthroughtheloopofstringthattiedtheletterstogether,andshewatcheditasthepackettwistedroundandroundandpincheditredderandredder."Isupposeyouneverwantedtobeawoman,"shesaid,consideringthisphenomenonwithapparentinterest. Axellaughed. "Themerequestionmakesyoulaugh,"shesaid,lookingupquickly."Ineverheardofamanwhodidwantto.Butl