CHAPTER XXV

ff,"saidAxelwithgreatseverity. "SoamI,"wastheheartyreply."Thetanglesatnightweresomethingawful." Hestoodsilentforamoment,thecigar-boxesunderhisarm,uncertainwhetherheoughtnottoenlightenherastothereprehensibilityofherlateconductinregardtoherauntandKlutz.Evidentlyherconsciencewascloudless,andyetshehaddonemoreharmthanwasquitecalculable.AxelwasfairlycertainthatKlutzhadsetfiretothestables.Absolutelycertainhecouldnotbe,butthefirstblazehadoccurredsonearlyatthemomentwhenKlutzmusthavereachedthemonhiswayhome,thathehadhardlyadoubtaboutit.ItwashisdutyasAmtsvorstehertoinstituteinquiries.IftheseinquiriesendedinthearrestofKlutz,thewholesillystoryaboutAnnawouldcomeout,forKlutzwouldbeonlytooeagertoexplainthereasonsthathaddrivenhimtotheactandwhatanunspeakablejoyfortheprovince,andwhatadeliciousexcitementforStralsund!HecouldonlyhopethatKlutzwasnottheculprit,hecouldonlyhopeitferventlywithallhisheartforifhewas,thechildpeepingoutathimsocheerfullyfrombehindthedoorhadmanagedtomakeanamountofmischiefandbringanamountoftroubleonAnnathatstaggeredhim.Suchalittlenonsense,andsuchfar-reachingconsequences!Hecouldnotspeakwhenhethoughtofit,andstrodepastherindignantly,andlefttheroomwithoutaword. "Nowwhat'stherowwithhim?"Lettyaskedherself,herfingerinhermouthforAxelhadlookedatherashepassedwithverygraveandangryeyes. Themenwaitinginthehallwereslightlydisconcerted,onbeingtakenintothedining-room,tofindtheKleinwaldeladiesthere.Noneofthem,exceptManske,likedladiesandladiesinthesmallhoursofthemorningwereaspecialwearinesstotheflesh.Dellwig,havingmadehistwodeepbowstothem,lookedmeaninglyathisfriendstheotherfarmersMissEstcourt'sprivateengagementtoLohmseemedtobeplacedbeyondadoubtbyherpresenceinhishouseonthisoccasion. "Howdelightfulofyou,"saidAxeltoherinEnglish. "Iamgladtohear,"shereplieds