CHAPTER XXIX
關燈
小
中
大
ningitgotover,shebecamefractious."Youwillhaveadifficulttime,"Axelhadsaidonthedayhespoilttheirfriendshipanditwastrue.Thedifficulttimebeganafterthatcornerwasturned,andthefartherthebaronessdrewawayfromit,thenearershegottocompleteconvalescence,themoredifficultdidlifeforAnnabecome.Foritresumedtheoldcourse,andtheyallresumedtheiroldselves,thesameoldselves,eventotheshadowofanunmentionedLollibetweenthem,thatAxelhadsaidtheywouldbynomeansgetawayfrombutwiththisdifference,thatthepeculiaritiesofbothFrauvonTreumannandthebaronessweremorepronouncedthanbefore,andthatnotoneofthetriowouldspeaktoeitheroftheothertwo.
FrauvonTreumannwasstillfirmlyfixedinthehouse,withouttheleastintentionapparentlyofleavingit,andshespenthertimelyinginwaitforAnna,watchingforanopportunityofbeginningagainaboutKarlchen.Annahadavoidedtheinevitabledaywhenshewouldbecaught,butitcameatlast,andshewascaughtinthegarden,whithershehadretiredtoconsiderhowbesttoapproachthebaroness,hithertoquiteunapproachable,ontheburningquestionofLolli.
FrauvonTreumannappearedsuddenly,comingsoftlyacrossthegrass,sothattherewasnotimetorunaway."Anna,"shecalledoutreproachfully,seeingAnnamakeamovementasthoughshewantedtorun,whichwasexactlywhatshedidwanttodo,"Anna,haveItheplague?"
"Ihopenot,"saidAnna.
"YoutreatmeasifIhadit."
Annasaidnothing."Whydoesshestayhere?Howcanshestayhere,afterwhathashappened?"shehadwonderedoften.Perhapsshehadcomenowtoannounceherdeparture.Shepreparedherselfthereforetolistenwithawillingear.
ShewassittingintheshadeofacopperbeechfacingtheoilyseaandthecoastofRügenquiveringoppositeintheheat-haze.Shewasnotdoinganythingsheneverdidseemtodoanything,astheseladiesofthebusyfingersoftennoticed.
"Blueandwhite,"saidAnna,lookingupatthegullsandtheskytogiveFrauvonTreumanntime,"thePomeraniancolours.Iseenowwheretheycomefrom."
ButFrauvonTreumannhadnotcomeouttotalkaboutthePomeraniancolours."MyKarlchenhasbeenill,"shesaid,hereyesonAnna'sface.
Annawatchedthegullsoverheadinthedeepblue."SohasElse,"sheremarked.
"Dearme,"thoughtFrauvonTreumann,"whatrancour."
ShelaidherhandonAnna'sknee,anditwastakennonoticeof."Youcannotforgivehim?"shesaidgently."Youcannotpardonamomentaryindiscretion?"
"Ihavenothingtoforgive,"saidAnna,watchingthegullsonedroppeddownsuddenly,androseagainwithafishinitsbeak,thesunforaninstantcatchingthesi