CHAPTER XXX

AnnadroveintoStralsundthenextmorningtoherbanker,accompaniedbyMissLeech.WhentheypassedAxel'shouseshesawthathisgate-postswerefestoonedwithwreaths,andthatgarlandsofflowerswerestrungacrossthegateway,swayingtoandfrosoftlyinthelightbreeze."Why,howfestiveitlooks,"sheexclaimed,wondering. "YesterdaywasHerrvonLohm'sbirthday,"saidMissLeech."IheardPrincessLudwigsayso." "Oh,"saidAnna.Hertonewaspiqued.Sheturnedherheadaway,andlookedatthehay-fieldsontheoppositesideoftheroad.Axelmusthavebirthdays,ofcourse,andwhyshouldhenotputthingsroundhisgate-postsifhewantedto?Yetshewouldnotlookagain,andwassilenttherestofthewaynorwasitofanyuseforMissLeechtoattempttowhileawaythelongdrivewithpleasantconversation.Annawouldnottalkshesaiditwastoohottotalk.Whatshewasthinkingwasthatmenwereexceedinglyhorrid,allofthem,andthatlifewasasnare. Farfrombeingfestive,however,Axel'slatestbirthdaywasquitethemostsolitaryhehadyetspent.Thecheerfulgarlandshadbeenputupbyanofficiousgardeneronhisowninitiative.Noone,exceptAxel'sowndependents,hadpassedbeneaththemtowishhimluck.Trudihadtelegraphedherblessings,administeringthemthusintheireasiestform.HisStralsundfriendshadapparentlyforgottenhiminotheryearstheyhadbeengladoftheexcusethebirthdaygavefordrivingoutintothecountryinJune,butthisyeartheastonishedMamsellsawherbirthdaycakeremainuntouchedandherbakedmeatswaitingvainlyforsomebodytocomeandeatthem. Axelneithernoticednorcared.Thehaymakingseasonhadjustbegun,andbesideshisownaffairshewaspreoccupiedbyAnna's.Ifshehadnotbeenshutupsolonginthebaroness'ssick-roomshewouldhavemethimoftenenough.Shethoughtheneverintendedtocomenearheragain,andallthetime,wheneverhecouldspareamomentandoftenwhenhecouldnot,hewasonherproperty,watchingDellwig'sfarmingoperations.Sheshouldnotsuffer,hetoldhimself,becausehelovedhersheshouldnotbepunishedbecauseshewasnotabletolovehim.Hewouldgoondoingwhathecouldforher,andwascertainly,athisage,notgoingtosulkandleavehertofaceherdifficultiesalone. ThefirsttimehemetDellwigontheseincursionsintoAnna'sdomain,heexpectedtobereceivedwithascowlbutDellwigdidnotscowlatallwasonthecontraryquiteaffable,evenvolunteeringinformationabouttheworkhehadinhand.NorhadhebeenafteralloffensivelyzealousinsearchingforthepersonwhohadsetthestablesonfireandluckilytheStralsundpolicehadnotbeenveryzealouseither.KlutzwaslookedforforalittlewhileafterAxelhaddenouncedhimastheprobableculprit,butthematterhadbeendropped,apparently,andforthelasttendaysnothingmorehadbeensaidordone.Axelwasbeginningtohopethatthewholethinghadblownover,thattherewastobenounpleasantnessafterallforAnna.Hearingthatthebaronesswasnearlywell,hedecidedtogoandcallatKleinwaldeasthoughnothinghadhappened.SometimeorotherhemustmeetAnna.Theycouldnotliveonadjoiningestatesandneverseeeachother.Thedayafterhisbirthdayhearrangedtogoroundintheafternoonandtakeupthethreadsofordinaryintercourseagain,howevermuchitmadehimsuffer. MeanwhileAnnadidherbusinessinStralsund,discoveredoninterviewingherbankerthatshehadalreadyspentmorethantwo-thirdsofawholeyear'sincome,lunchedpensivelyafterthatoniceswithMissLeech,walkeddowntothequayandwatchedtheunloadingofthefishing-smackswhileFritzandthehorseshadtheirdinner,wasverymuchstaredatbytheinhabitants,whoseldomsawanythingsopretty,andfinally,abouttwoo'clock,startedagainforhome. AstheydrewnearAxel'sgate,andshewaspreparingtoturnherfaceawayfromitsostentatiousgaiety,aclosedDroschkecamethroughittowardsthem,followedatashortdistancebyasecond. MissLeechsaidnothing,strangethoughthisspectaclewasonthatquietroad,forshefeltthatthesewerethedepartingguests,and,likeAnna,shewonderedhowamanwholovedinvaincouldhavethehearttogiveparties.Annasaidnot