CHAPTER XIX

Annaputonherhatandwentouttothinkitover.Fr?uleinKuhr?uberwasapparentlystillasleep.Letty,accompaniedbyMissLeech,hadtogotoLohmparsonageforherfirstlessonwithHerrKlutz,whohadundertakentoteachherGerman.FrauvonTreumannsaidshemustwriteatoncetoKarlchen,andshutherselfuptodoit.Thebaronesswasvagueastoherintentions,anddisappeared.SoAnnastartedoffbyherself,crossedtheroad,andwalkedquicklyawayintotheforest."Ifitmakeshersohappy,thenIamglad,"shesaidtoherself."SheisheretobehappyandifshewantsKarlchensobadly,whythenshemusthavehimfromtimetotime.IwonderwhyIdon'tlikeKarlchen." Shewalkedquickly,withhereyesontheground.Themoodinwhichshesangmagnificatshadlefther,nordidshelooktoseewhattheAprilmorningwasdoing.FrauvonTreumannhadnotbeenunderherrooftwenty-fourhours,andalreadyhersonhadbeenadded—ifonlyoccasionally,stillundoubtedlyadded—totheparty.SupposethebaronessandFr?uleinKuhr?ubershouldseverallydiscloseaninabilitytolivewithoutbeingvisitedbysomecherishedrelative?Supposetheothernine,thestillUnchosen,shouldeachturnouttohavearelativewaitingtragicallyinthebackgroundforpermissiontomakerepeatedcalls?Andsupposetheserelativesshouldallbemale? Theseweregravequestionssogravethatshewasquiteatalosshowtoanswerthem.Andthenshefeltthatsomebodywaslookingatherandraisinghereyes,shesawAxelonthemossypathquiteclosetoher. "Sodeepinthought?"heasked,smilingatherstart. Annawonderedhowitwasthathesooftenwentthroughtheforest.WasitashortcutfromLohmtoanywhere?Shehadmethimthreeorfourtimeslately,inquiteoutofthewayparts.Heseemedtoridethroughitandwalkthroughitatallhoursoftheday. "Howisyourpotato-plantinggettingon?"sheaskedinvoluntarily.Sheknewwhatarushtherewasjustthenputtingthepotatoesin,forshedidnotdriveeverydayaboutherfieldsinacartwithoutspringswithDellwigfornothing.Axelmusthavepotatoestoplanttoowhydidn'thestayathome,then,anddoit? "Whatatrulyproperquestionforacountryladytoask,"hesaid,lookingamused."YouwastenotimeinconventionalgoodmorningsoraskinghowIdo,butbeginatoncewithpotatoes.Well,Idonotbelievethatyouarereallyinterestedinmine,soIshalltellyounothingaboutthem.YouonlywanttoremindmethatIoughttobeseeingthemplantedinsteadofwalkingaboutyourwoods." Annasmiled."IbelieveIdidmeansomethinglikethat,"shesaid. "Well,Iamnotsoaimlessasyousuppose,"hereturned,walkingbyherside."Ihavebeenlookingatthatplace." "Whatplace?" "WhereDellwigwantstobuildthebrick-kiln." "Oh!Whatdoyouthinkofit?" "WhatIknewIwouldthinkofit.Itisafool'splan.Theclayisthemostwretchedstuff.Ithaspuzzledme,seeinghowverypooritis,thatheshouldbesoeagertohavethething.Ishouldhavecreditedhimwithmoresense." "Heisquiteabsurdlykeenonit.LastnightIthoughthewouldneverstoppersuading." "Butyoudidnotgivein?" "Notaninch.IsaidIwouldaskyoutolookatit,andthenhewassimplyrude.Idobelievehewi