II

urnwithatremendoussplashandgurgle.Thentheywalkedonquicklytowardstherailwaystation,infinitelyrelievedtobeontheirownfeetagain,andbetweenthem,allunsuspected,walkedtheradiantOnewiththesmilingeyes,shewhowashalf-mindedtoseethisgamethrough,givingtheplayersjustsomanyfrightsaswouldkeepheramused,thefickle,laughinggoddessGoodLuck. TheycaughtthetrainneatlyatRühl.Theyonlyhadtowaitaboutthestationfortenminutesbeforeitcamein.Hardlyanyonewasthere,andnobodytooktheleastnoticeofthem.Fritzing,afteracarefullookroundtoseeifitcontainedpeopleheknew,putthePrincessintoasecond-classcarriagelabelledFrauen,andthenrespectfullywithdrewtoanotherpartofthetrain.Hehaddecidedthatsecond-classwassafest.Peopleinthatcountrynearlyalwaystravelsecond-class,especiallywomen,—atalltimesinsuchmattersmoreeconomicalthanmenandawomanbyherselfinafirst-classcarriagewouldhavebeenanobjectofsurmiseandcuriosityateverystation.ThereforePriscillawasputintothecarriagelabelledFrauen,andfoundherselfforthefirsttimeinherlifealonewithwhatshehadhithertoonlyheardalludedtovaguelyasthepublic. ShesatdowninacornerwithanoddfeelingofsurpriseatbeingincludedinthecategoryFrauen,andgivingaswifttimidglancethroughherveilatthepublicconfrontingherwasrelievedtofinditconsistedonlyofacomfortablemotherandherchild. IknownotwhytheadjectivecomfortableshouldsoinvariablybedescriptiveofmothersinGermany.InEnglandandFrancethoughyoumaybeamother,youyet,Ibelieve,maybesowithoutbeingcomfortable.InGermany,somehow,youcan't.Perhapsitistheclimateperhapsitisthefoodperhapsitissimplywantofsoul,orthatyoursouldoesnotburnwithafiresufficientlyconsuming.Anyhowitisso.Thismotherhadallthegood-naturethatgoeswithamplitude.BeingengagedinfeedingherchildwithbelegteBr?dchen—thatimmenselysatisfyingformofsandwich—sheatonceofferedPriscillaone. "Nothankyou,"saidPriscilla,shrinkingintohercorner. "Dotakeone,Fr?ulein,"saidthemother,persuasively. "Nothankyou,"saidPriscilla,shrinking. "Onajourneyitpassesthetime.Evenifoneisnothungry,thankGodonecanalwayseat.Dotakeone." "Nothankyou,"saidPriscilla. "Whydoesshewearthatblackthingoverherface?"inquiredthechild."Issheawitch?" "Silence,silence,littleworthlessone,"criedthemother,delightedlystrokinghisfacewithhalfaBr?dchen."Youseeheisclever,Fr?ulein.Heresembleshisdearfatherasoneeggdoesanother." "Doeshe?"saidPriscilla,immediatelyconceivingaprejudiceagainstthefather. "Whydon'tshetakethatblackthingoff?"saidthechild. "Hush,hush,smallimpudence.TheFr?uleinwilltakeitoffinaminute.TheFr?uleinhasonlyjustgotin." "Mutti,issheawitch?Mutti,Mutti,issheawitch,Mutti?" Thechild,hiseyesfixedanxiouslyonPriscilla'sswathedhead,begantowhimper. "Thatchildshouldbeinbed,"saidPriscilla,withaseveritybornofheranxietylest,tocalmhim,humanityshouldforcehertoputupherveil."Personswhoareasintelligentasthatshouldneverbeintrainsatnight.Theirbrainscannotbearit.Wouldhenotbehappierifhelaydownandwenttosleep?" "Yes,yesthatiswhatIhavebeentellinghimeversinceweleftKunitz"—Priscillashivered—"buthewillnotgo.DostthouhearwhattheFr?uleinsays,Hans-Joachim?" "Whydon'tshetakethatblackthingoff?"whimperedthechild. ButhowcouldthepoorPrincess,howeveranxioustobekind,takeoffherveilandshowherwell-knownfacetothisprobableinhabitantofKunitz? "Dotakeitoff,Fr?ulein,"beggedthemother,seeingshemadenopreparationstodoso."Whenhegetsideasintohisheadthereisneverpeacetillhehaswhathewants.Hedoesremindmesomuchofhisfather." "Didyouever,"saidPriscilla,temporizing,"tryhimwithalittle—justalittleslap?Onlyalittleone,"sheaddedhastily,forthemotherlookedatheroddly,"onlyasasortofcounter-irritant.Anditneedn'tbereallyhard,youknow—" "Ach,she'sawitch—Mutti,she'sawitch!"shriekedthechild,flinginghisface,butterandall,attheseportentouswords,intohismother'slap. "There,there,poortinyone,"soothedthemother,withanindignantside-glanceatPris