CHAPTER XXV

WhenAxelcameintwohourslater,bringingDellwigandManskeandtwoorthreeotherhelpers,farmers,whohaddrivenacrosstheplaintodowhattheycould,hefoundhishouselitupandfoodanddrinksetoutreadyinthedining-room. LettyandAnnahadhadtimetorecoverfromtheirtearsandvows,sundrysmallblistersonthebackofLetty'sneckhadbeentreatedwithcottonwool,andtheyhademergedfromtheiragitationtoacalmerstateinwhichthehelpingoftheprincessinthemiddleofthenighttomakesomebodyelse'shousecomfortablewasnotwithoutitsjoys.TheMamsell,nomoreablethantheKleinwaldeservantstowithstandtheauthorityoftheprincess'snameandeye,hadcollectedthemaidsandworkedwithawillandwhen,alldangerofthefirespreadingbeingover,Axelcameindirtyandsmokyandscorched,preparedtohavetohunthimselfinthedarkhousefortherefreshmenthecouldnotbutofferhishelpers,hewasagreeablysurprisedtofindthelampinthehallalight,andtobemetbyawide-awakeMamsellinacleanapronwhoproposedtoprovidethegentlemenwithhotwater.Thiswasveryattentive.Axelhadneverknownhersothoughtful.Thegentlemen,however,withoneaccordrefusedthehotwatertheywoulddrinkaglassofwine,perhaps,asHerrvonLohmsokindlysuggested,andthengototheirhomesandbedsasquicklyaspossible.Manske,byfarthegrimiest,wasalsothemostdecidedinhisrefusalhewasagodlyman,buthedidnotlovesupererogatorywashings,underwhichheadingsurelyawashingattwoo'clockinthemorningcame.Axellefttheminthehallamoment,andwentintohisstudytofetchcigarsandtherehefoundLetty,hidingbehindthedoor. "Youhere,younglady?"heexclaimedsurprised,stoppingshort. "Don'tletanyoneseeme,"shewhispered."PrincessLudwigandAuntAnnaareinthedining-room.IraninherewhenIheardpeoplewithyou.Myhairisallburntoff." "What,youwenttoonear?" "Sparkscameafterme.Don'tletthemcomein——" "Youwerenothurt?" "No.Alittle—onthebackofmyneck,butit'shardlyanything." "Iamverygladyourhairwasburnto