CHAPTER XXXII

ekagainsthissleeve.Allherchildishfollies,andincertitudes,andfalsestartsweredonewithnow.Lifehadgrownsuddenlysimple.Itwastobeacleavingtohimtilldeath.Yettheybothknewthatwhenthatgoldenhourwasover,andshemustgo,thesufferingwouldbeginagain.Shewasonlytocometwiceaweekandthedaysbetweenwouldbedaysoftorture.Andwhenthemomenthadcome,andtheyhadsaidgood-byewithbraveeyes,eachtellingtheotherthatsoshortaseparationwasnothing,thattheydidnotmindit,thatitwouldbeoverbeforetheyhadhadtimetofeelit,andthedoorwasshut,andhewasleftbehind,shewentouttofindmiseryagain,waitingforhertherewhereshehadleftit,takingentirepossessionofher,broodingheavily,immovablyoverher,adesolationofmiserythatthreatenedbyitsdreadfulweighttobreakherheart. AsenseofphysicalcoldcreptoverherasshedrovehomewithLetty—thebodilyexpressionoftheunutterableforlornnesswithin.Awayfromhim,howweakshewas,howunabletobebrave.WouldLettyunderstand?Wouldshesaysomekindword,somelittleword,something,anything,thatmightmakeherfeellessterriblyalone?Withmanypausesandfalteringsshetoldherthestory,lookingatherwitheyestorturedbythethoughtofhimwaitingsopatientlytheretillsheshouldcomeagain.Lettywasawestruck,asmuchbytheprofoundgriefofAnna'sfaceasbytherevelation.SheknewofcoursethatAxelhadbeenarrested—didanyoneatKleinwaldetalkofanythingelsealldaylong?—butshehadnotdreamtofthis.Shecouldfindnothingtosay,andputoutherhandtimidlyandlaiditonAnna's."Iamsocold,"wasallAnnasaid,herheaddroopingandshedidnotspeakagain. Astheypassedbetweenhisfields,byhisopengate,throughthevillagethatbelonged,allofit,tohim,sheshuthereyes.Shecouldnotlookatthehappysummerfields,attheplacidfaces,knowinghimwherehewas.Notthepoorestofhisservants,notaraggedchildrollinginthedust,notawretched,half-starveddogsunningitselfinadoorway,whoselotwasnotblessedcomparedtohis.Thehaymakerswerepilinguphishayonthewaggons.Girlsinwhitesun-bonnets,withbarearmsandlegs,stoodonthetopof