CHAPTER XVIII

obeforlifewithanuntruththatwouldnothavemisledachild.ButseetheeffectofsleepandagraciousAprilmorning.TheveryshabbinessandpaltrinessofthefibmadeAnna'sheartyearnoverthepoorlady.Surelythepridethattriedtohideitswoundswithragsofsuchpitifulflimsinesswasprofoundlypathetic?Withsuchpride,allfalsefromAnna'spointofview,butrealandpainfulenoughtoitspossessor,thenecessitythatdrovehertoacceptAnna'soffermusthavebeenmorecruelthannecessity,alwayscruel,generallyis.Herheartyearnedoverherfriendasshedressed,andshefeltthattheweaknessthatmustliewasaweaknessgreatlyrequiringlove.Fornobody,sheargued,wouldeverlieunlessdriventoitbyfearofsomesuffering.If,then,itmadeherhappy,andmadeherlifeeasier,letherthinkthatAnnabelievedshehadcomeforhersake.Whatdiditmatter?Noonewasperfect,andmanypeopleweresurprisinglypathetic. Meanwhilethedaywasglorious,andshewentdownstairswiththespringystepofhope.Shewasthinkingexhilaratingthoughts,thinkingthatthereweretobenoripplesofmisgivingsandmisunderstandingsontheclearsurfaceofthisfirstmorning.Theywouldalllookintoeachothers'candideyesatbreakfast,andreadamutualconsciousnessofinterestshenceforwardtobeshared,ofhappinesstobeshared,oflifetobeshared,—thelifeofdevotedandtendersisters. Thehalldoorstoodopen,andthehousewasfullofthesmellofAprilthesmellofnewleavesbudding,ofoldleavesrotting,ofdampearth,pineneedles,wetmoss,andmarshes."Oh,thelovely,lovelymorning!"whisperedAnna,runningoutontothestepswithoutstretchedarmsandupturnedface,asthoughshewouldhaveclaspedallthebeautyroundandhelditclose.Shedrewinalongbreath,andturnedbackintothehousesinginginanimpassionedbuthalf-suppressedvoicethefirstverseoftheMagnificat.Thedoorleadingtothekitchenopened,andtohersurpriseBaronessElmreichemergedfromthosedarkregions.TheMagnificatbrokeoffabruptly.Annawassurprised.Whythekitchen?Thebaronesssawherhostess'sfiguremotionlessagainstthelightoftheopendoorbutthelightbehindwasstrongandthehallwasdark,andshethoughtitwasAnna'sback.Hopingthatshehadnotbeennoticedshesoftlyclosedthedooragainandwaitedbehindittillshecouldcomeoutunseen. Annasupposedthattheprincessmustbeshowinghertheservants'quarters,andwentintothebreakfastroombutinitsattheprincess,makingcoffee. "Thereyouare,"saidtheprincessheartily."Thatisnice.Nowwecandrinkourcoffeecomfortablytogetherbeforetheotherscomedown.Haveyoubeenout?Yousmelloffreshair." "Onlyamomentonthedoorstep." "Come,sitnexttome.Youhavesleptwell,Icansee.Noticetheadvantageofcomingstraightintobreakfast,andnotrunningabouttheforest—yougetherefirst,andsogetthebestcupofcoffee." "Butitisn'tproperformetohavethebest,"saidAnna,smilingasshetookthecup,"whenIhaveguestshere." "Yes,itis—veryproperindeed.Besides,youtoldmetheyweresisters." "Sotheyare.Hasthebaronessnotbeenhere?" "No,sheisstillinbed." "No,Isawheramomentago.Ithoughtyouwerewithher." "Oh,mydear—soearlyinthemorning!"protestedtheprincess."WhendidIseeherlast?Lessthanninehoursago.Shefollowedmeintomybedroomandtalkedmuch.Icouldnotbeginagainwithherthefirstthinginthemorning,eventopleaseyou."AndshelookedatAnnaveryaffectionately."Youweretiredlastnight,wereyounot?"shecontinued."AxelLohmstayedsolate,I