CHAPTER XIX

rinhisarmsandkissher,andnotlethergoagaintillshehadsaidshewouldmarryhim.Itwasexceedinglyawkward,forheknewquitewellthatifhedidsoitwouldbetheendofallthings. Heturnedratherwhite,andthrusthishandsdeepintohispockets."Yes,theplanisbeautiful,"hesaidcheerfully,"butveryunpractical.Andthenaturethatmadeitis,Iamsure,beautiful,butofcoursequiteasunpracticalastheplan."Andhesmileddownather,abroad,genialsmile. "IknowIdon'tsetaboutthingstherightway,"shesaid."Ifonlyyouwouldn'tworryaboutthepastsofmypoorfriendsandwhattheirrelationsmayhavedoneinpre-historictimes,youcouldhelpmesomuch." Tohisreliefshebegantowalkonagain."PrincessLudwigisasensibleandexperiencedwoman,"hesaid,"andcanhelpyouinmanywaysthatIcannot." "Butsheonlylooksatthepraktischesideofaquestion,andthatisreallyonlyoneside.Iamtoounpractical,Iknow,butsheisn'tunpracticalenough.ButIdon'twanttotalkabouther.WhatIwantedtosaywas,thatoncethesepoorladieshavebeenchosenandarehere,thetimeformakinginquiriesisover,isn'tit?AsfarasIamconcerned,anyhow,itis.Ishallneverforsakethem,never,never.Sopleasedon'ttrytotellmethingsaboutthem—itdoesn'tchangemyfeelingstowardsthem,andonlymakesmeangrywithyou.Whichisapity.Iwanttoliveatpeacewithmyneighbour." "Well?"hesaid,asshepaused."That,Itakeit,isapreludetosomethingelse." "Yes,itis.It'sapreludetoKarlchen." "ToKarlchen?" Shelookedathim,andlaughedrathernervously."Iamafraid,"shesaid,"thatKarlcheniscomingtostaywithme." "Andwho,pray,isKarlchen?" "Theonlysonofhismother,andsheisawidow." Hecametoastandstillagain."What,"hesaid,"FrauvonTreumannhasaskedyoutoinvitehersontoKleinwalde?" "Shedidn'tactuallyask,butshegotasadletterfromhim,andseemedtofeeltheseparationsomuch,andcriedaboutit,andso—andsoIdid." Axelwassilent. "Idon'tyearntoseeKarlchen,"saidAnnainratherasmallvoice.Shecouldnothelpfeelingthattheinvitationhadbeenwrungfromher. Axelboredaholeinthemosswithhisstick,anddidnotanswer. "Butnaturallyhispoormotherclingstohim,andhetoher." Axelwasintentonhisholeanddidnotanswer. "Theyarealltheworldtoeachother." Axelfilleduphisholeagain,andpressedthemosscarefullyoveritwithhisfoot.Thenhesaid,"IneveryetheardoftwoTreumannsbeingalltheworldtoeachother." "YouappeartohaveadownontheTreumanns." "Notintheleast.Idonotthinktheyinterestmeenough.ItisanEastPrussianJunkerfamilythathasspreadbeyonditsnaturallimits,andonemeetsthemeverywhere,andknowstheircharacteristics.Whatisthisyoungman?Idonotrememberhavingheardofhim." "HeisanofficeratRislar." "AtRislar?Thosearetheredhussars.Doyouwishmetomakeinquiriesabouthim?" "Oh,no.It'snouse.Hismothercan'tbehappywithouthim,sohemustcome." "ThenmayIaskwhy,ifIamnottohelpyouinthematter,wearetalkingabouthimatall?" "Iwantedtoaskyouwhether—whetheryouthinkhewillcom