CHAPTER XVIII

butitwasveryearlytobeenthusiastic,andatthathourofthedayshewasaccustomedtobeingalittlecross.Besides,shehadhadnocoffeeyet,andherhostessevidentlyhad,andthatmadeagreatdifferencetoone'ssentiments.ThebaronesslookedpinchedandbloodlessshewasasfrigidasevertoAnna,saidnothingabouthavingseenherbefore,andseemedtowanttobeleftalone.Sothatthemutualgazingintoeachother'seyesdidnot,afterall,takeplace. Theprincesswaitedtoseethattheyhadalltheywanted,andthenwentoutrattlingherkeysandafteraninterval,duringwhichAnnachatteredcheerfulandungrammaticalGerman,andthewindowwasshut,andwarmingfoodeaten,FrauvonTreumannbecameamiableandbegantotalk. Shedrewfromherpocketaletterandaphotograph."Thisismyson,"shesaid."Ibroughtitdowntoshowyou.AndIhavehadalongletterfromhimalready.Heneverneglectshismother.Trulyagoodsonisasourceofjoy." "Isupposeso,"saidAnna. Thebaronessturnedhereyesslowlyroundandfixedthemonthephotograph."Aha,"shethought,"thesonagain.Lastnighttheson,thismorningtheson—alwaystheson.TheexcellentTreumannlosesnotime." "Heisgood-looking,myKarlchen,ishenot?" "Yes,"saidAnna."Itisabecominguniform." "Oh—becoming!Helooksadorableinit.Especiallyonhishorse.Iwouldnotlethimbeanythingbutahussarbecauseofthecharminguniform.Andhesuitsitexactly—suchalightlybuilt,gracefulfigure.Heneverstumblesoverpeople'sfeet.HerrvonLohmnearlycrushedmypoorfootlastnight.Itwasdifficultnottoscream.Ineverdidadmirethoselongmenmadebythemeter,whoseemasthoughtheywouldgoonforeveriftherewerenoceilings." "Heisratherlong,"agreedAnna,smiling. "Heartwhole,"thoughtFrauvonTreumann."Tellme,dearMissEstcourt——"shesaid,layingherhandonAnna's. "Oh,don'tcallmeMissEstcourt." "Butwhat,then?" "Oh,youmustcallmeAnna.Wearetobelikesistershere—andyou,too,please,callmeAnna,"shesaid,turningtothebaroness. "Youareverygood,"saidthebaroness. "Well,mylittlesister,"saidFrauvonTreumann,smiling,"mybabysister——" "Babysister!"thoughtthebaroness."ExcellentTreumann." "—youknowanoldwomanofmyagecouldnotreallyhaveasisterofyours." "Yes,shecould—notawholesister,perhaps,butahalfone." "Well,asyouplease.Theideaissweettome.Iwasgoingtoaskyou—butKarlchen'sletteristootouching,really—suchthoughtsinit—suchhighideals——"Andsheturnedoverthesheets,ofwhichtherewerethree,andbegantoblowhernose. "Hehaswrittenyouaverylongletter,"saidAnnapleasantlytheextenttowhichthenoseblowingwasbeingcarriedmadeheruneasy.Wastheretobecrying? "Youhaveacold,dearFrauvonTreumann?"inquiredthebaronesswithsolicitude. "Achnein—dochnein,"murmuredFrauvonTreumann,turningthesheetsover,andblowinghernoseharderthanever. "Itwillcomeoff,"thoughtLetty,whohadslippedinunnoticed,andwaseatingbreadandbutteraloneatthefurtherendofthetable. "Poorthing,"thoughtAnna,"sheadoresthatKarlchen." Therewasapause,duringwhichthenosecontinuedtobeblown. "Hisletterisbeautiful,butsad—verysad,"saidFrauvonTreumann,shakingherheaddespondingly."Poorboy—poordearboy—hemisseshismother,ofcourse.Iknewhewould,butIdidnotdreamitwouldbeasbadasthis.Oh,mydearMissEstcourt—well,Annathen"—smilingfaintly—"Icouldneverdescribetoyouthewrenchitwas,theterrib