CHAPTER XXVIII

"IsHerrvonTreumanngone?" Itwaslatethesameafternoon,andPrincessLudwighadcomeintothebedroomwheretheStralsunddoctorwasstillvainlyendeavouringtobringthebaronessbacktolife,toaskAnnawhethershewouldseeAxelLohm,whowaswaitingdownstairsandhopedtobeallowedtospeaktoher."ButisHerrvonTreumanngone?"inquiredAnnaandwouldnotmovetillshewassureofthat. "Yes,andhismotherhasgonewithhimtothestation." Annahadnotleftthebaroness'ssidesincethecatastrophe.Shecouldnotseetheunconsciousfaceonthepillowfortears.Wasthereeversuchbarbarous,suchgratuitouscrueltyasyoungTreumann's?Hismotherhadbeeninonceortwiceontiptoe,thelasttimetotellAnnathathewasleaving,andwouldshenotcomedownsothathemightexplainhowsorryhewasforhavingunwittinglydonesomuchmischief?ButAnnahadmerelyshakenherheadandturnedagaintothepiteouslittlefigureonthebed.Neveragain,shetoldherself,wouldsheseeorspeaktoKarlchen. ThemovementwithwhichsheturnedawaywasexpressiveandFrauvonTreumannwentoutandheapedbitterreproachesonKarlchen,drivingwithhimtoStralsundinordertohaveampletimetoheapallthatwereinhermind,anddoingitthemorethoroughlythathewasinacrushedconditionandaltogetherincapableofdefendinghimself.Forwhathadhereallycaredaboutthebaroness'srelationshiptoLolli?Hehadthoughtitahugejoke,andhadlookedforwardwithenjoymenttoseeingAnnapromptlyorderheroutofthehouse.Howcouldhe,thickofskinandslowofbrain,haveforeseensuchacrisis?HewasverymuchinlovewithAnna,andshiveredwhenhethoughtofthelookshehadgivenhimasshefollowedthepeoplewhowerecarryingthebaronessoutoftheroom.Certainlyhewasexceedinglywretched,andhismothercouldnotreproachhimmorebitterlythanhereproachedhimself.Whileshewasvehementlypointingouttheobvious,hemeditatedsadlyonthelengthofthejourneyhehadtakenforworsethannothing.Allthemorninghehadbeenroastedintrains,andhewasabouttoberoastedagainforadrearysuccessionofhours.Hishotuniform,putonsolelyforAnna'sbedazzlement,addedenormouslytohistormentsandthedistancebetweenRislarandStralsundwasgreat,andthejourneyproportionatelyexpensive—muchtooexpensive,ifallyougotforitwasoneintoxicatingglimpseofdimples,followedbyaflashinglookofwraththatmadeyoufeelcoldwiththethermometeratninety.Hehadnotfeltsodejectedsincetheeighties,hereflected,inwhichdarkageshehadbeenforcedtofightaduel.Karlchenhadaprejudiceagainstduellinghethoughtitfoolish.But,beinganofficer—hewasatthattimeaconspicuouslygaylieutenant—whateverhemightthinkaboutit,ifanyonewantedtofighthimfighthemust,ordropintotheawfulranksofUnknowables.Hehadmadeajokeofapersonalnature,andtheothermanturnedouttohavenosenseofhumour,andtookitseriously,andexpressedadesireforKarlchen'sblood.Drivingwithhisjustlyincensedmotherthroughthedustandheattothestation,herememberedthedismalnighthehadpassedbeforetheduel,andthoughthowmuchhisdejectionthenhadresembledinitsprofundityhisdejectionnowforhehadbeenafraidhewasgoingtobehurt,andwhateverpeoplemaysayaboutcouragenobodyreallylikesbeinghurt.Well,perhapsafterall,thisbusinesswithAnnawouldturnoutallright,justasthatbusinesshadturnedoutallrightforhehadkilledhisman,and,insteadofwounds,hadbeencoveredwithglory.ThusKarlchenendeavouredtosnatchcomfortashedrove,butyethisheartwasveryheavy. "Ihope,"saidhismotherbitinglywhenhewasinthetrain,patientlywaitingtobetakenbeyondthesoundofhervoice,"