CHAPTER XXII

y?Toyou?"DellwiglookedupfromthepaperatKlutz,andexaminedhimslowlyfromheadtofootasifhehadneverseenhimbefore.Hisexpressionwhilehediditwasnotflattering,butKlutzrarelynoticedexpressions."What'sitallabout?"heasked,whenhehadreachedKlutz'sboots,bywhichheseemedstruck,forhelookedatthemtwice. "Love,"saidKlutzproudly. "Love?" "Letmecomehomewithyou,"saidKlutzeagerly,"I'lltranslateitthere.Ican'therewherewemightbedisturbed." "Comeon,then,"saidDellwig,walkingoffatagreatpacewiththepaperinhishand. Justastheywereturningintothefarmyardtherattleofacarriagewasheardcomingdowntheroad."Stop,"saidDellwig,layinghishandonKlutz'sarm,"theHerrschaftenhavebeendrinkingcoffeeinthewoods—heretheyare,cominghome.Youcangetagreetingifyouwait." Theybothstoodontheedgeoftheroad,andthecarriagewithAnnaandaselectionfromherhouse-partydroveby.DellwigandKlutzsweptofftheirhats.WhenAnnasawKlutzsheturnedscarlet—undeniably,unmistakablyscarlet—andlookedawayquickly.Dellwig'slipsshapedthemselvesintoawhistle."Comein,then,"hesaid,glancingatKlutz,"comeinandtranslateyourpoem." SeldomhadKlutzpassedmoredeliciousmomentsthanthoseinwhichherenderedLetty'sversesintoGerman,withboththeDellwigsdrinkinginhiswords.TheproudandexclusiveDellwigs!Amonthagosuchathingwouldhavebeentoowildaflightoffancyforthemostambitiousdream.Intheveryroominwhichhehadbeenthrustasideatparties,forgottenincorners,leftbehindwhentheotherswentintosupper,hewasnowsittingthecentreofinterest,withhisformersupercilioushostshangingonhiswords.Whenhehaddone,hadalltoosooncometotheendofhisdelightfultask,helookedroundatthemtriumphantlyandhistriumphwasimmediatelydashedoutofhimbyDellwig,whosaidwithhisharshestlaugh,"Putasideallyourhopes,youngman—MissEstcourtisengagedtoHerrvonLohm." "Engaged?ToHerrvonLohm?"Klutzechoedstupidly,hismouthopenandthehandholdingtheversesdroppinglimplytohisside. "Engaged,engaged,engaged,"Dellwigrepeatedinaloudsing-song,"notopenly,butallthesameengaged." "Itistrulyscandalous!"criedhiswife,greatlyexcited,andfirmlybelievingthattheverseswereindeedAnna's.WasshenotherselfoftheraceofWeiber,anddidshenotthereforewellknowwhattheywerecapableof? "Silence,Frau!"commandedDellwig. "Andshetakesmyflowers—mydailyofferings,floralandpoetical,andshesendsmetheseverses—andallthetimesheisbetrothedtosomeoneelse?" "Sheis,"saidDellwigwithanotherburstoflaughter,forKlutz'sfaceamusedhimintensely.Hegotupandslappedhimontheshoulder."ThisisyourfirstexperienceofWeiber,eh?Don'twasteyourheartachesoverher.Sheisayoungladywholikestohaveherlittlejokeandmeansnoharm——" "Sheisapersonwithoutshame!"criedhiswife. "Silence,Frau!"snappedDellwig."Lookhere,youngman—why,whatdoeshelooklike,sittingtherewithallthewindknockedoutofhim?Gethimaglassofbrandy,Frau,orweshallhavehimcryingagain.Situp,andbeaman.MissEstcourtisnotforyou,andneverwillbe.Onlyavicarcouldeverhavedreamedshewas,andhavebeenimposeduponbythispoetrystuff.Butthoughyou'reavicaryou'reaman,eh?Here,drinkthis,andtellusifyouarenotaman." Klutzfeeblytriedtopushtheglassaway,butDellwiginsisted.Klutzwaspaletoghastliness,andhiseyeswerebrimmingagainwithtears. "Oh,thisperson!Oh,thisEnglishwoman!Oh,theshamefultreatmentofanestimableyoungman!"criedFrauDellwig,staringatthehavocAnnahadwrought. "Silence,Frau!"shoutedDellwig,stampinghisfoot."Youcan'tbetreatedlikethis,"hewentontoKlutz,who,usedtodrinkingmuchmilkattheabstemiousparsonage,alreadyfeltthebrandyrunningalonghisveinslikeliquidfire,"youcan'tbemaderidiculousanddonothing.Avicarcan'tfight,butyoumusthavesomerevenge." Klutzstarted."Revenge!Yes,b