CHAPTER XXX

hingeither,butwatchedtheapproachingDroschkescuriously.Axelwassittinginthefirstone,onthesidenearher.Heworehisordinaryfarmingclothes,theNorfolkjacket,andthesoftgreenhat.Therewerethreemenwithhim,seedy-lookingindividualsinblackcoats.Shebowedinstinctively,forhewaslookingoutofthewindowfullather,buthetooknonotice.Sheturnedverywhite. ThesecondDroschkecontainedfourmorequeer-lookingpersonsinblackclothes.Whentheyhadpassed,Fritzpulleduphishorsesofhisownaccord,andtwistinghimselfroundstaredaftertherecedingcloudofdust. AnnahadbeencutbyAxelbutitwasnotthatthatmadeherturnsowhite—itwassomethinginhisface.Hehadlookedstraightather,andhehadnotseenher. "Whoarethosepeople?"sheaskedFritzinavoicethatfaltered,shedidnotknowwhy. Fritzdidnotanswer.HestareddowntheroadaftertheDroschkes,shookhishead,begantoscratchit,jerkedhimselfroundagaintohishorses,droveonafewyards,pulledthemupasecondtime,lookedback,shookhishead,andwassilent. "Fritz,doyouknowthem?"Annaaskedmoreauthoritatively. ButFritzonlymumbledsomethingsoothinganddroveon. Annahadnotfailedtonoticetheoldman'sfaceashewatchedthedepartingDroschkesitworeanoddlyamazedandscaredexpression.Herheartseemedtosinkwithinherlikeastone,yetshecouldgiveherselfnoreasonforit.ShetriedtoorderhimtoturnuptheavenuetoAxel'shouse,butherlipsweredry,andthewordswouldnotcomeandwhileshewasstrugglingtospeakthegatewaspassed.Thenshewasrelievedthatitwaspassed,forhowcouldshe,onlybecauseshehadapresentimentoftrouble,gotoAxel'shouse?Whatdidshethinkofdoingthere?MissLeechglancedather,andaskedifanythingwasthematter. "No,"saidAnnainawhisper,lookingstraightbeforeher.NorwasthereanythingthematteronlythatblindlookonAxel'sface,andthestrangefeelinginherheart. Aknotofpeoplestoodoutsidethepostofficetalkingeagerly.TheyallstoppedtalkingtostareatAnnawhenthecarriagecameroundthecorner.Fritzwhippeduphishorsesanddrovepastthematagallop. "Wait—Iwanttogetout,"criedAnnaastheycametotheparsonage."Doyoumindwaiting?"sheaskedMissLeech."IwanttospeaktoHerrPastor.Iwillnotbeamoment." Shewentupthelittletrimpathtotheporch.Themaid-of-all-workwasclearingawaythecoffeefromthetable.FrauManskecamebustlingoutwhensheheardAnna'svoiceaskingforherhusband.Shelookedextraordinarilyexcited."Hehasnotcomebackyet,"shecriedbeforeAnnacouldspeak,"heisstillattheSchloss.GottDuAllm?chtiger,didoneeverhearofanythingsoterrible?" Annalookedather,herfaceaswhiteasherdress."Tellme,"shetriedtosaybutnosoundpassedherlips.Shemadeagreateffort,andthewordscameinawhisper:"Tellme,"shesaid. "What,thegraciousMisshasnotheard?HerrvonLohmhasbeenarrested." Itwasimpossiblenottoenjoyimpartingsotremendousapieceofnews,howevergenuinelyshockedonemightbe.FrauManskebroughtitoutwitharingofpride.Itwouldnotbeeasytobeat,shefelt,inthewayofnews.ThensherememberedthegossipaboutAnnaandAxel,andobservedherwithincreasedinterest.Wasshegoingtofaint?Itwouldbetheonlybecomingcourseforhertotakeifitweretruethattherehadbeencourting. ButAnna,whosevoicehadfailedherbefore,whenonceshehadheardwhatitwasthathadhappened,seemedcuriouslycoldandcomposed. "Whatwasheaccusedof?"wasallsheaskedsocalmly,FrauManskeafterwardstoldherfriends,thatitwasnotevenwomanlyinthefaceofsogreatamisfortune. "Hesetfiretothestables,"saidFrauManske. "Itisalie,"saidAnnaalso,asFrauManskeafterwardspointedouttoherfriends,anunwomanlyremark. "Hedidithimselftogettheinsurancemoney." "Itisalie,"repeatedAnna,inthatcoldvoice. "Eye-witnesseswillsweartoit." "Theywilllie,"saidAnnaagainandturnedandwalkedaway."Goon,"shesaidtoFritz,takingherplacebesideMissLeech. Shesatquitesilenttilltheywerenearthehouse.Thensh