CHAPTER XIX

llhavetogo.Idon'treallythinkweshallevergetontogether.Certainly,asyousaytheclayisbad,Ishallrefusetobuildabrick-kiln." Axelsmiledatherenergy.InthemorningshewasalwaysdeterminedaboutDellwig."Youareverybraveto-day,"hesaid."Lastnightyouseemedafraidofhim." "HecomeswhenIamtired.Iamnotgoingtoseehimintheeveninganymore.Itistoodreadfulasafinishtoahappyday." "Itwasahappyday,then,yesterday?"heaskedquickly. "Yes—thatis,itoughttohavebeen,andprobablywouldhavebeenif—ifIhadn'tbeentired." "Buttheothers—thenewarrivals—theymusthavebeenhappy?" "Yes—ohyes—"saidAnna,hesitating,"Ithinkso.Fr?uleinKuhr?uberwas,Iamsure,atintervals.Ithinktheothertwowouldhavebeeniftheyhadn'thadajourney." "Bytheway,doyourememberwhatIsaidyesterdayabouttheElmreichs?" "Yes,Ido.Yousaidhorridthings."Hervoicechanged. "AboutaBaronElmreich.Buthehadasisterwhomadeahashofherlife.IsawheronceortwiceinBerlin.ShewasdancingattheWintergarten,andunderherownname." "Poorthing.Butitdoesn'tinterestme." "Don'tgetangryyet." "Butitdoesn'tinterestme.Andwhyshouldn'tshedance?IknewseveralpeoplewhoendedbydancingatLondonWintergartens." "Youadmit,then,thatitisanend?" "Itishardlyabeginning,"concededAnna. "Shewassoamazinglylikeyourbaronesswouldbeifshepaintedandworeawig——" "Thatyouareconvincedtheymustbesisters.Thankyou.Nowwhatdoyousupposeisthegoodoftellingmethat?"Andshestoodstillandfacedhim,hereyesflashing. Dowhathewould,Axelcouldnothelpsmilingatherwrath.Itwasthewrathofamotherwhosechildhasbeenhurtbysomeoneonpurpose,"Iwish,"hesaid,"thatyouwouldnotbesoangrywhenItellyouthingsthatmightbeimportantforyoutoknow.Ifyourbaronessisreallythesisterofthedancingbaroness——" "Butsheisnot.Shetoldmelastnightthatshehasnobrothersandsisters.Andshewroteitinthelettersbeforeshecame.Doyouthinkitisapraiseworthyoccupationforaman,doinghisbesttofindoutdisgracefulthingsaboutaverypoorandveryhelplesswoman?" "No,Idonot,"saidAxeldecidedly."UnderanyothercircumstancesIwouldleavethepoorladytotakeherchance.Butdoconsider,"hesaid,followingher,forshehadbeguntowalkonquicklyagain,"doconsideryourunusualposition.Youaresoyoungtobelivingawayfromyourfriends,andsoyoungandinexperiencedtobeattheheadofahomeforhomelesswomen—yououghttobequiteextraordinarilyparticularabouttheantecedentsofthepeopleyoutakein.Itwouldbemostunpleasantifitgotaboutthattheywerenotrespectable." "Buttheyarerespectable,"saidAnna,lookingstraightbeforeher. "AsisterwhodancesattheWintergarten——" "DidInottellyouthatshehasnosister?" Axelshruggedhisshoulders."Theresemblanceissostrikingthattheymightbetwins,"hesaid. "Thenyouthinkshesayswhatisnottrue?" "HowcanItell?" Annastoppedagainandfacedhim."Well,supposeitweretrue—supposeitishersister,andshehastriedtohideit—doyouknowhowIshouldfeelaboutit?"